This was made known on Thursday by TIB’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement has announced plans to picket state commands of the Nigeria Police Force across the country on Friday, to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the detained human rights activist and #RevolutionNow movement convener, Omoyele Sowore.
This was made known on Thursday by TIB’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Sanyaolu, who said the protest will start by 9am across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, wrote, “We will be occupying @PoliceNG state commands tomorrow. Join a barricade from your state. #FreeSowore #EgbetokunMustGo”
TIB described Sowore’s detention by the Nigeria Police Force under the authority “illegal” Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, as illegal, vengeful, and a gross abuse of power.
SaharaReporters on Wednesday reported that Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), had been detained at the Force Headquarters by the police after honouring an invitation over ‘petitions’ filed against him.
Sowore, who voluntarily honoured the invitation, arrived at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, accompanied by his legal team —A.K. Musa, Marshal Abubakar — and several supporters.
Upon arrival, investigators reportedly stalled proceedings, claiming Sowore had to wait for the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) after the activist demanded to see the original copy of the petitions and declined to make a statement without it.
SaharaReporters also reported that at least eight police officers stormed the Force Intelligence Department (FID) at about 6am on Thursday and forcibly moved Sowore to an undisclosed location.
It was learnt that the officers assaulted the activist and twisted his right hand, causing an injury, after he insisted on seeing his lawyer and collecting his clothes before being taken away.
Sowore earlier accused the police of intimidation and abuse of power and revealed that he was served two petitions while in custody, which he claimed originated from what he described as the “illegal office of the IGP.”
He noted that the petitions were handed over by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Akin Fakorede, a controversial former officer of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Sowore said the first petition accused him of forgery, while the second was reportedly filed by one Bukola Yemisi Kuti, whom sources told SaharaReporters was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) due to her relationship with the Inspector General of Police.
The second petition accuses Sowore of"criminal defamation."
Critics say the case reflects a pattern of state harassment against dissenting voices and further undermines public confidence in the rule of law.
— JuwonSanyaolu (@AyowoleSanyaolu) August 7, 2025
