Surprisingly, armed Department of State Services operatives, who were stationed at the entrance of the court, turned their faces away as they watched the attackers operate unfettered.
Some hoodlums believed to be sponsored by the Nigerian government on Wednesday attacked human rights’ activist, Omoyele Sowore, and journalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja during the trial of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The attackers in their numbers descended on the activist shortly after he was turned back by the operatives of Department of State Service who barricaded the road leading to the court.
Sowore at that time was coming from the Court of Appeal where he went for the hearing of his appeal challenging the stringent bail conditions imposed on him by the Federal High Court, restricting him to Abuja.
The miscreants who hid around the Bayelsa House opposite the Federal Ministry of Justice descended on the activist and journalists, destroying their cameras and other equipment.
The thugs, who brandished dangerous weapons such as cutlasses, knives and axes, inflicted injuries on the journalists and Sowore's supporters.
Surprisingly, armed Department of State Services operatives, who were stationed at the entrance of the court, turned their faces away as they watched the attackers operate unfettered.
The attackers in the process collected the camera of a journalist with Reuters and damaged other journalists' cameras after beating them to a stupor in attempt to collect their devices.
Wednesday’s attack was not the first time the Nigerian government would be mobilising thugs to go after Sowore – the latest incident only adds to a history of abuses.[story_link align="left"]101862[/story_link]
On February 6, 2021, a police officer who had tortured and broken the activist’s nose during #CrossOverProtest on January 1 came to court with the same squad to intimidate the activist on the court premises.
On July 26, 2021, the Nigeria Police Force and DSS unleashed violence on Sowore as he arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja to witness the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
On October 21, the lawless Department of Security Service also colluded with thugs to attack Sowore in front of the same court after he was denied entry by policemen during Kanu’s trial.[story_link align="left"]101008[/story_link]
It took the intervention of some journalists covering the event to rescue the activist from his attackers, who had arrived on the scene in vehicles.
But to the surprise of everyone, the security agents including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Federal Secretariat Police Station looked on as the activist was being assaulted.
On December 2, 2021, the DSS added to the already swelling list of attacks against Sowore’s liberty on court premises.
Armed thugs hired by the secret police attacked him as he made his way out of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Immediately they sighted him, the thugs rushed towards Sowore and started throwing stones at the activist and the people with him.
As he navigated his way out of the court premises, the thugs rained several more stones on his car, damaging the shields, windows and some other parts.