Prominent activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, arrived at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, carrying a travel bag packed with personal items in what appeared to be a symbolic gesture of readiness for detention.

Sowore was responding to a controversial summons from the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit over a petition reportedly filed against him. He arrived at exactly 12:16 p.m., accompanied by his legal team—Barristers A.K. Musa and Marshal Abubakar and dozens of supporters who chanted anti-government slogans and criticized the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

Among the items in his visibly packed bag were clothing, books, soap, a toothbrush, and toothpaste—items suggesting preparedness for incarceration.

Tensions quickly escalated as members of the Take It Back Movement, #NUDE NIGERIA, and other allied groups issued a two-hour ultimatum to the police to release Sowore or face mass resistance.

“If they refuse to release Sowore, then they must arrest us with him. We will not leave. It’s 12:16 p.m., and after two hours, if he’s not released, they’ll have to detain all of us,” declared Princess Mikky, convener of #NUDE NIGERIA.

Rex Elanu, speaking on behalf of the Take It Back Movement, accused the police of pursuing a vendetta, describing the invitation as a politically motivated attempt to silence Sowore.

“It is disgraceful that the Inspector General has chosen vendetta over professionalism. Sowore has consistently spoken truth to power. We will not back down in our fight to liberate Nigerians from the stranglehold of bad governance,” Elanu said.

The protesters condemned what they called a pattern of political persecution and legal harassment against dissidents, urging Nigerians to reject what they see as a growing culture of repression.

Sowore had earlier questioned the legality of the invitation, describing it as “defective and riddled with legal flaws.” The initial allegation of “inciting disturbance,” which critics argue is not recognized under Nigerian law, was later changed to “forgery and criminal defamation.”

Despite this, the police have not publicly disclosed the petitioner’s identity or presented supporting legal documentation.

Observers say the case reflects a broader trend of intimidation against government critics and raises serious concerns about due process and civil liberties in Nigeria.