Sowore Responds as IGP Calls for Protest Cancellation on National Police Day

Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has responded strongly after the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, called for the cancellation of a protest scheduled for Monday, April 7, citing National Police Day as the reason.

The announcement was made in a statement shared by the Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, via the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Nigeria Police Force. The IGP expressed disapproval of the planned demonstration, labeling it “unpatriotic” and “mischievous,” considering that April 7 marks a day dedicated to honoring the Nigerian Police.

Adejobi said:
“The Nigeria Police Force hereby advises the organizers to shelve this planned protest as it is ill-timed and mischievous.”

However, Sowore was quick to reject the directive. In a post on his official X handle, he insisted that the protest would proceed as planned. He emphasized the citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and criticized the police for trying to derail the movement with what he described as distractions.

In his words:
“Regardless, tomorrow’s protest must go across Nigeria. Nothing can stop the movement of the people!”

Sowore’s defiant stance underlines a broader tension between activists and authorities over freedom of expression and assembly in Nigeria.