A civic group, Social Crusade for a Sane Society, has condemned the Nigeria Police Force’s decision to summon Omoyele Sowore for questioning regarding a video exposing police extortion.
The video shows police officers stationed on the road, apparently extorting money from motorists.
Meanwhile, the police have invited Sowore for questioning over the video.
However, in a media statement signed by the group convener Icon-James Tam, issued on Saturday, they argued that the police should focus on addressing the systemic issues within the force instead of targeting individuals who expose misconduct.
According to the group, Sowore deserves commendation and not intimidation, warning that if the invitation scheduled for Monday, is intended to detain him, it will be met with widespread resistance from Nigerians.
The group said Nigerians will not stand for such blatant attempts to suppress accountability and transparency.
The group maintained that the systemic rot within the country’s institutions requires bold individuals like Sowore, who are not afraid to expose these ills.
“Any attempt to silence such voices will only deepen public distrust in our security agencies and derail efforts for a better society,” it said.
“It is both shocking and disheartening to read the charges levelled against him for bringing to light the shameful rot within the Nigeria Police Force.
“In the video, Sowore exposed the extortion of innocent Nigerians, a practice that has sadly become normalized,” the group said.
It continued, “Rather than address the rot and hold the perpetrators accountable, the police have chosen to target Sowore—a whistleblower who has acted in the public interest.
“What Mr. Sowore has done is an invaluable service to the police institution and the nation at large. His actions provide an opportunity for the authorities to investigate and cleanse their ranks.
“The officers involved in the extortion incident should be identified, investigated, and if found guilty, prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. This is what accountability entails, not turning on a man who has courageously exposed the wrongdoing.
“The Nigeria Police should realise that Sowore deserves commendation, not intimidation. If the invitation scheduled for Monday, as rumoured, is intended to detain him, it will be met with widespread resistance from Nigerians who will not stand for such blatant attempts to suppress accountability and transparency.
“The systemic rot within our institutions requires bold individuals like Omoyele Sowore who are unafraid to expose these ills. Any attempt to silence such voices will only deepen public distrust in our security agencies and derail efforts for a better society.”
The Nigeria Police Force had invited Sowore for questioning over the video he recorded during an altercation with police officers on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.
Reacting to the invitation, Sowore on Friday evening, said he would honour the invitation.
“The Nigeria Police Force has formally extended an invitation letter requesting my presence for an interview regarding certain criminal allegations, and it is my duty to honor their invitation, which I will do on Monday as requested,” he said.
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