Sowore Condemns Attack on Women Protesters at Kwara Government House

Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the violent assault on women and children who staged a peaceful protest at the Kwara State Government House over rising insecurity and kidnapping in their communities.

A video circulating widely on social media shows protesters being harassed and flogged by suspected hired thugs while officers of the Nigeria Police Force looked on without intervening.

Reacting on his official X handle, Sowore described the incident as “one of the most despicable scenes” he had witnessed at a government facility.

“It is especially disturbing that uniformed police officers stood by and watched as helpless women were beaten, harassed, and humiliated in broad daylight,” he said.

Sowore also criticized Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, accusing the state government of either sanctioning or tacitly permitting the attack. He condemned the “descent into violence against women and children,” calling it unacceptable in any democracy.

In the video, the women, speaking in Yoruba, pleaded for urgent government intervention amid repeated kidnappings affecting residents, including children and husbands.

“They have kidnapped everyone, both young and old. We are paupers; we have nothing to give. Please help us from these kidnappers. They keep abducting our children and husbands,” one protester lamented.

Sowore urged the Nigeria Police Force to identify and sanction the officers who failed to protect the protesters and called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the thugs involved. “Anything short of this will confirm official complicity,” he warned.

At the time of filing this report, neither the Kwara State Government nor the Nigeria Police Force had issued an official statement regarding the incident.