Armed men abduct Sowore, RULAAC urges IGP to act urgently to secure his safety
Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has been reportedly abducted by armed men during his campaign tour in Ekiti State.
It is unclear if those who abducted Sowore were political thugs, security agents or bandits. Later reports on social media claimed Sowore had been rushed to hospital after a reported marchet attack by thugs.
But a statement by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to immediately mobilise security agencies to establish the whereabouts of the activist and ensur
e his safe return.
According to RULAAC’s Executive director Okechukwu Nwanguma, the said concerns raised about Sowore’s safety required an urgent and credible response from the police, urging the authorities to verify the circumstances surrounding the incident and deploy the necessary personnel and resources to protect his life.
The organisation outlined five demands to the IGP, including immediately establishing Sowore’s location and taking all necessary lawful measures to secure his safety.
It also urged the police to ensure that any rescue operation prioritises the preservation of his life and the safety of everyone involved.
RULAAC further called on the police to provide verified information about his whereabouts to his family and legal representatives, while issuing public updates that would not compromise his safety.
The organisation added that if Sowore was in the custody of any security agency, the authorities should immediately disclose his whereabouts and legal status and guarantee him access to his lawyers, family and medical care.
It also demanded an investigation into any unlawful conduct connected with the incident and called for accountability through due process.
The organisation said disagreements over Sowore’s views or activism should not affect the authorities’ responsibility to protect his life, dignity and liberty.
“Political opinion must never determine whose distress receives an urgent response from the authorities,” Nwanguma said.
RULAAC said the immediate priority was to establish Sowore’s whereabouts and ensure that he returned safely and alive.
