Sowore storms police HQ with travel bag after IGP summons over alleged forgery, defamation

Human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, made a dramatic appearance at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, arriving with a travel bag packed with essentials, including soap and personal items suggesting he was prepared for possible detention.

This comes in response to a summons issued by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Monitoring Unit, inviting Sowore for questioning over allegations of forgery and criminal defamation. The invitation, dated August 5, follows a petition submitted against the activist.

Sowore on Tuesday vowed to honour the summons “with a full house”, calling on all “revolutionary comrades, citizens of conscience, voices of resistance” to join him.

At about 12:16 p.m., Sowore arrived at the facility accompanied by his lawyers, A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar, along with a crowd of supporters chanting anti-government and anti-Kayode Egbetokun songs.

His visibly packed travel bag contained personal essentials, including toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, clothing, books, and other items, a symbolic gesture suggesting he was prepared for possible detention.