LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has warned of a possible resurgence of nationwide protests, citing rising police brutality, alleged cover-ups, and renewed public anger following a deadly shooting of a fast-rising music star in Delta State.
Speaking to journalists outside a court in Abuja, Sowore raised alarm over what he described as a worsening pattern of police violence in Nigeria.
He warned that continued incidents of alleged extrajudicial killings could trigger another mass uprising similar to the October 2020 End SARS protests.
Sowore linked the recent killing of Oghenemine Ogidi, popularly known as OG Milan, in Effurun, Delta State, to officers allegedly operating outside proper uniform regulations.
He claimed many involved in such operations are former SARS operatives who “should have been dismissed… but they are still in the police force” and are still being used within the system despite past controversies.
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“They will see an End SARS 2.0 coming up soon. You can tell already by the immediate reaction of Nigerians that they hate police brutality,” he said.
The activist further alleged that such officers are often assigned to high-risk or illegal operations because of the financial benefits they generate for the system.
Reflecting on past experiences, Sowore recalled facing legal action after documenting police misconduct.
He said a court later upheld the right of citizens to record law enforcement activities, describing it as a vital tool for accountability.
Following this, Sowore encouraged Nigerians to continue documenting police actions where possible, stressing that evidence has been key in exposing abuses that would otherwise remain hidden.
Further commenting on the viral Effurun incident, he noted that the footage only surfaced days after the shooting.
Sowore suggested that the delay showed a possible attempt to conceal the incident from public attention.
“It happened on Sunday. But we didn’t know until yesterday… they didn’t know who took the video, otherwise they could have killed the person who also took the video. That’s how wicked the Nigeria police is,” Sowore stated.
He added that similar incidents occur frequently across the country but rarely become public unless captured on camera, including in Abuja where he claimed such abuses are often carried out in secrecy.
“What you saw that day is what happens every day, even here in Abuja,” he noted.
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Describing the system, Sowore referenced past allegations tied to SARS detention practices, saying suspects were often executed immediately after arrest without due process.
The activist therefore concluded with a strong call for accountability, demanding the removal of senior police leadership in Delta State.
Sowore argued that both the Commissioner of Police and top officials in the state should be dismissed, describing the region as increasingly unsafe.
“And my position is that both the Commissioner of Police in the States and all the top echelons of the police in Delta State must be relieved of their position immediately. Delta has become a very difficult place recently, a hub for renewed repression,” he concluded.
