Human rights activist and lawyer, Okere Kingdom, has condemned his recent arrest and detention by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja, describing the experience as “illegal, brutal, and deeply traumatic.”
Speaking after his release, Okere accused Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun of abusing power, stating that the IGP has effectively turned himself into “the chief terrorist of the Federation.”
“My arrest was extremely traumatic. The IG himself has become the chief terrorist of the Federation. As the saying goes, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Okere said.
He explained that his arrest was a result of the illegal consolidation of authority under Egbetokun, citing amendments to the Police Act that allegedly allowed him unchecked powers.
Okere, a prominent advocate for justice in Nigeria’s Southeast and South-South regions, said he was violently apprehended in Utako, Abuja, while addressing journalists on the need for fairness and equality in the country.
“I was speaking to the media — live on News Central, Arise Television, and other outlets — about why justice must be served for all Nigerians, regardless of tribe,” he recounted. “Suddenly, armed policemen swooped in and picked me up like a criminal.”
The activist stated that his only “offence” was speaking truth to power, particularly highlighting the marginalisation of the Southeast and the detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, simply because of his ethnicity.
“I pointed out incidents, including allegations that the former Kaduna State Governor accused the National Security Adviser of arming bandits, yet no one was investigated. But when you speak out against injustice, the police come after you,” Okere said.
Condemning what he described as the “politics of insecurity” in Nigeria, Okere accused the government of using selective justice and intimidation to silence dissenting voices.
“Every citizen should be treated equally, no matter where they come from. I refuse to live in a country where being Igbo makes you a second-class citizen,” he asserted.
He also questioned the legal basis for his arrest, noting that the supposed court order only prohibited protesters from approaching the National Assembly and the Three Arms Zone.
“I was at Utako, far from those restricted areas, addressing the press. So when did speaking to the media become an offence in this country?” he asked.
Okere has vowed to take legal action against IGP Egbetokun for unlawful arrest, detention, and violations of his fundamental human rights.
“This government is turning Nigeria into a police state. Citizens, journalists, and activists are now targets for simply speaking up. But we will not be silent. We will continue to resist oppression with the power of truth,” he warned.
His arrest occurred amid mounting outrage over the Nigerian Police’s violent suppression of peaceful protests in Abuja and other cities, including the use of tear gas and force against journalists and civil society activists advocating for justice and the release of detained leaders like Nnamdi Kanu.
