Nigerian activist and comedian, Dan Bello, has launched a fierce public attack on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, demanding his immediate removal over the controversial arrest and detention of human rights campaigner Omoyele Sowore.
In a widely shared Facebook post, Bello described Egbetokun as the “most useless IGP in the history of Nigeria,” accusing him of turning the Nigeria Police Force into a personal weapon for revenge. He linked Sowore’s detention to his outspoken criticism of corruption, political elites, and irregular promotions within the police force.
Bello alleged that the IGP’s conduct violates the 2020 Police Act and internal disciplinary rules, which prohibit officers from using their position to settle personal scores. He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act immediately to restore public trust in the police and uphold the rule of law.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and publisher of SaharaReporters, was detained after voluntarily honoring a police invitation over a petition alleging forgery and defamation. He declined to give a statement without seeing the original petition—a request the police reportedly ignored. Authorities later claimed a court order had been obtained for his detention, while armed officers surrounded the Force Intelligence Department in apparent preparation to relocate him to an undisclosed location.
The arrest has sparked public outrage, with activists and legal experts condemning the move as politically motivated and a clear attempt to intimidate critics of the government.
