By Danjuma Lamido
In an era where misinformation travels faster than facts, the recent arrest of Mr. Omoyele Sowore serves as a textbook example of how professionalism and transparency can disarm propaganda.
The Nigeria Police Force deserves commendation for the calm, lawful, and methodical manner in which it handled both the arrest and the public relations surrounding the incident.
Contrary to sensational claims, Mr. Sowore was not arrested for exercising his right to protest but in response to a petition from a private citizen alleging serious offences, including forgery and criminal defamation.
The police, as mandated by law, acted on this complaint with due process, ensuring that no one—regardless of social media influence or political notoriety—stands above the law.
Perhaps most telling was the police’s swift rebuttal of Sowore’s social media theatrics, where he circulated a black-and-white, oddly cropped photo of a supposedly fractured hand wrapped in bandages.
Upon closer scrutiny, this image raised more questions than it answered: Why was the picture monochrome in an age of instant colour photography? Why was the hand disproportionately large compared to the rest of the body? Who tied the bandage? And, most importantly, why was there no corroborating evidence of injury during or after arrest?
By promptly exposing these inconsistencies, the Nigeria Police Force not only defended its integrity but also set a new standard in countering deliberate disinformation. In doing so, the Force protected public trust and reaffirmed its commitment to truth, fairness, and the rule of law.
This incident underscores the importance of professional policing that resists provocation, focuses on facts, and allows evidence to speak louder than spin.
Sowore’s attempts to turn his legal troubles into a sympathy campaign fell flat—not because the public has grown indifferent, but because the police matched restraint with transparency and action with accountability.
In a time when the narrative can be weaponised, the Nigeria Police has shown that professionalism, coupled with timely fact-checking, is the surest antidote to misinformation. For that, they deserve not just commendation, but emulation.
Danjuma Lamido is the Secretary General of the Integrity Youth Alliance and writes from Abuja, FCT. Email: danjumalamido2011@gmail.com
