Pulse.ng : NYCN Blasts Police Over Sowore’s Re-Arrest, Calls for IGP’s Exit, Firm Judicial Resolution of Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

The National President of NYCN, Comrade Isah Abubakar

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has condemned the alleged re-arrest of activist Omoyele Sowore by police operatives, calling it a clear display of impunity and a violation of judicial authority.

In a statement signed by its National President, Isah Abubakar, on Friday in Kaduna, the council described the action as a blatant act of judicial disobedience that undermines the rule of law and the nation’s democratic image.

The group expressed dismay that Mr. Sowore was reportedly re-arrested on Friday, October 24, 2025, immediately after a Kuje Magistrate Court granted him bail on charges of unlawful assembly, describing the conduct as uncalled for and barbaric.

It said the incident confirmed widespread fears that the Nigeria Police Force was fast turning the country into a global laughing stock due to unchecked excesses and disregard for human rights.

The NYCN urged the police to exercise restraint and return to professionalism, emphasizing that respect for the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ rights must remain their guiding principles.

The council linked the crisis of confidence in the police to the continued stay of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in office despite attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 on September 4, 2024.

According to the group, the IGP’s extended tenure, sustained by a controversial legislative amendment, has demoralized senior officers and weakened discipline within the force, as seen in the mass retirement of his contemporaries approved by the Police Service Commission in January 2025.

The youth council therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately relieve the IGP of his position to restore order, hierarchy, and integrity in the police.

It further warned that the police leadership would be held accountable should any harm come to Mr. Sowore while in custody, urging international human rights organizations to monitor the conduct of the current police administration closely.

On the ongoing trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, the NYCN reaffirmed its support for the Federal Government and the judiciary, calling for a firm and decisive conclusion of the case.

The group commended the judiciary for its commitment to due process despite the prolonged delays, including the indefinite adjournment of proceedings on February 10, 2025, but urged that justice must not be compromised.

It said Mr. Kanu’s divisive rhetoric and unconstitutional actions had been linked to the loss of over 700 lives and the destruction of properties estimated at over ₦7.6 trillion in the South-East region.

The council stressed that nobody should be above the law, urging the government to ensure that Kanu is held fully accountable for his actions, including the possibility of a life sentence to serve as a deterrent.

The NYCN reaffirmed its unwavering support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the judiciary in safeguarding national unity, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring justice for all victims of violence linked to the secessionist movement.