Sowore Alleges NIA Director Resigned Over Refusal to Execute Tinubu’s Human Rights Abuses

Activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has alleged that Ahmed Abubakar, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), resigned due to his unwillingness to participate in human rights abuses allegedly planned by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

This accusation comes amid increasing concerns over the actions of Nigeria’s security agencies under the current government.

Sowore, a vocal critic of Nigeria’s political establishment, made these claims on Sunday in response to the arrest of investigative journalist Adejuwon Soyinka.

According to reports, Soyinka, the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) shortly after arriving at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

He had flown into the country on a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.

The timing of Soyinka’s arrest has raised questions, particularly in light of Abubakar’s recent resignation as NIA Director-General.

Abubakar had stepped down just days before, citing personal and family reasons for his departure.

He formally submitted his resignation letter to President Tinubu during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he stressed that his decision was not driven by any critical issues but was purely due to private matters.

“There are quite a number of reasons one will do that. Some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, actually, and the friendship will continue,” Abubakar told journalists after the meeting, seeking to downplay any speculation regarding his exit.

However, Sowore has cast doubt on this explanation, suggesting that Abubakar’s resignation was, in fact, a protest against the severe human rights violations he anticipated under Tinubu’s leadership.

Sowore claimed that while Abubakar had previously aided former President Muhammadu Buhari in carrying out acts such as the abduction and extraordinary rendition of Biafra separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, he was unwilling to engage in what Sowore described as an even more brutal crackdown planned by the current administration.

Sowore’s allegations are particularly significant in the context of recent actions by security forces against protesters and journalists.

He accused President Tinubu’s government of detaining over 2,000 protesters, killing 40 peaceful demonstrators, injuring numerous others, including 27 journalists, and engaging in the abduction of whistleblowers.

Additionally, Sowore claimed that security agents had raided the offices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and harassed the families of its members, further fuelling concerns about the state of civil liberties in the country.

In a statement made available to Newsmen, Sowore argued that Abubakar’s departure from the NIA was linked to his inability to reconcile with the scale of human rights abuses that he feared would be committed under Tinubu’s rule.

“I think this is why the NIA DG resigned; having helped Muhammadu Buhari to commit several atrocities, including the abduction and extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, he couldn’t continue with the scale of violations and abuse planned for Nigerians by the Tinubu regime.

Or maybe he was just below par for the task ahead!” Sowore remarked, suggesting that Abubakar might have felt either morally compromised or unfit to execute the agenda purportedly set by the new administration.

Sowore, who has long been an advocate for revolutionary change in Nigeria, used the opportunity to warn the public about what he sees as the onset of a “full-blown fascism” in the country.

He called on all Nigerians to resist the growing authoritarianism, declaring that a revolution is now inevitable. “The darkest days are here, but we MUST all roundly reject and RESIST.

This is full-blown fascism. Let everyone take a position NOW. A #REVOLUTION is INEVITABLE at this point,” he proclaimed, employing hashtags like #RevolutionNow and #FearlessInOctober to galvanise support for his cause.

Sowore’s comments have added a new dimension to the ongoing discourse around human rights and governance in Nigeria.

His assertions highlight the increasing tension between the government and those who oppose its methods, particularly regarding the use of state security apparatuses to suppress dissent.

While Sowore’s claims about Abubakar’s resignation and the alleged plans of the Tinubu administration have yet to be substantiated, they have nonetheless sparked further debate on the state of democracy and human rights in Nigeria.

As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these accusations will impact the political landscape and whether they will provoke a broader movement against the current administration.