By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukeu
Pandemonium broke out on Friday outside the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja as police operatives reportedly re-arrested human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, moments after he was granted bail.
Eyewitnesses said chaos erupted when the officers, identified as members of the Anti-Vice Unit under the FCT Command, punched and dragged Sowore into a waiting police van shortly after the court session ended.
Sources told PRIME GOSSIP that the incident occurred while Sowore’s lawyers were still processing his bail conditions following a ruling by Magistrate Abubakar Umar Sai’Id, who granted bail to Sowore and 13 others in the sum of ₦500,000 each.
The court had ordered that the defendants present verified National Identification Numbers (NIN), three-year tax clearance certificates, and submit their passports as part of the bail requirements.
However, witnesses said that as the legal team worked on perfecting the bail, police officers, led by CSP Iliyasu Barau, Officer-in-Charge of the Anti-Vice Unit under the FCT Criminal Investigation Department (CID), swooped on the activist.
“They punched him, dragged him on the ground, and violently pushed him into the van,” an eyewitness said. “They refused to produce any remand order when asked.”
According to another source, the officers claimed they were acting on a secret remand order authorising Sowore’s transfer to Kuje Correctional Centre.
“The magistrate had granted bail to Sowore and others, but these officers insisted they had fresh instructions,” the witness added. “It was clear they were trying to take him away without due process.”
Lawyers and journalists who were present said they were also attacked as they attempted to question the officers. Some of Sowore’s supporters alleged that the police used force to disperse those filming the incident.
A video circulating online shows the moment Sowore was dragged into a van as supporters shouted for justice. His lawyer was reportedly stained with blood during the scuffle.
EYEWITNESS later identified CSP Iliyasu Barau as the officer who led the team that carried out the arrest. The platform alleged that Sowore was taken to an unknown location after being overpowered.
Earlier in the day, the court had granted bail to Sowore, along with other defendants arrested during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja. Among those granted bail were Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor; his brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu; and 11 others.
They had been arraigned on charges bordering on unlawful assembly and disturbance of public peace.
Sowore’s latest arrest has drawn widespread condemnation from civil society groups and human rights organisations, who described the development as a violation of judicial authority.
The activist, a former presidential candidate and pro-democracy advocate, has been repeatedly arrested over his activism and criticism of government policies.
His detention on Thursday, shortly after he left the Federal High Court in Abuja, had already sparked outrage before Friday’s dramatic re-arrest.
Human rights groups have since called on the Inspector General of Police to respect the court’s decision and release Sowore immediately, warning that continued defiance of court orders undermines Nigeria’s democracy and rule of law.