Former African Action Congress presidential candidate and human rights advocate, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly condemned the assault on women and children who peacefully protested at the Kwara State Government House, demanding action over the rising wave of kidnappings in their community.
A video circulating widely on social media captures the disturbing scene, showing women protesters being harassed and flogged by suspected hired thugs as uniformed Nigeria Police officers looked on without intervening.
Reacting on his official X account on Monday, Sowore described the incident as “one of the most despicable scenes” he had ever witnessed at a seat of government.
“It is especially disturbing that uniformed Nigeria Police officers stood by and watched as helpless women protesters were beaten, harassed, and humiliated in broad daylight,” he added.
Sowore further accused Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of intolerance and high-handedness, suggesting that the attack was either sanctioned or tacitly allowed by state authorities.
“This descent into violence against women and children is unacceptable in any democracy,” he emphasized.
In the video, the women, speaking in Yoruba, tearfully pleaded with the government to act against the escalating insecurity in their community. They spoke of repeated kidnappings affecting residents, including children and husbands.
“They have kidnapped every one of us, both young and old. We are paupers; we have no money, and there is absolutely nothing they can get from us. We are begging the public to come to our rescue. Please help us from these kidnappers. They keep abducting our children and husbands,” one of the women lamented.
Sowore also called on the Nigeria Police Force to act swiftly and hold the erring officers accountable.
“The Nigeria Police Force must immediately identify and sanction the officers who abdicated their duty. The thugs who carried out this assault must be arrested, prosecuted without delay, and brought to justice. Anything short of this will confirm official complicity,” he stated.
As of the time of reporting, neither the Kwara State Government nor the Nigeria Police Force has issued an official response to the incident.
