The statement said the pair were at the court to show solidarity with human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, who was attending a court session, when police operatives “violently whisked them away” in an unmarked vehicle.
The Take It Back (TIB) Movement, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of abducting two of its members in what it described as an act of “state-sanctioned kidnapping.”
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the group’s coordinator, Comrade Moses Andrew, the victims Comrade Haruna Israel and his friend were allegedly seized by armed police officers at the entrance of the Magistrate Court, Kuchiyako, Kuje, on Monday, October 27, 2025.
The statement said the pair were at the court to show solidarity with human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, who was attending a court session, when police operatives “violently whisked them away” in an unmarked vehicle.
The statement added that the incident was an unlawful arrest, adding that the movement claims had since discovered that no formal charges were filed against them and that the men’s whereabouts remained unknown.
“Following their abduction, the Kuje Divisional Police Officer (DPO), who was said to have led the team, claimed that the comrades had been transferred to the FCT Police Command,” the statement read.
“However, when our members visited the Command, they were redirected to the Abattoir (SARS Office), where officials again denied knowledge of their whereabouts.”
The group expressed concern that the missing men may be subjected to torture or other human rights violations in secret custody, describing the incident as “a criminal act of state-sponsored abduction carried out by rogue police operatives.”
It further held the Kuje DPO, the FCT Police Command, and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, responsible for the safety and release of the detained activists.
“This incident is yet another proof that the Nigeria Police Force has degenerated into a tool of oppression that terrorizes peaceful citizens instead of protecting them,” the statement continued.
The TIB Movement demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the two men, full disclosure of their current location, and accountability for all officers involved in the operation.
It also called on civil society organizations, human rights groups, and the media to demand answers from the authorities, warning that “silence in the face of this growing dictatorship is complicity.”
As of press time, police authorities had not issued any official statement or responded to inquiries regarding the alleged abduction.
