Detained activist, Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Nigeria Police Force of failing to provide him a medical doctor after officers allegedly broke his arm while in custody.

Mr Sowore, who is being held at the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja, made the claim on Friday when police officials allowed journalists and some activists to visit him in custody. The alleged that the visit was an attempt to downplay the injuries he sustained and create a false impression that he was being treated fairly.

Showing a bandaged arm, the Sahara Reporters publisher described his arrest and detention as politically motivated, insisting that there was no legal justification for his continued detention. He added that, rather than allowing him to access proper medical treatment, the police brought in the press to cover up the harm done to him.

Mr Sowore has been in custody since Wednesday after honouring an invitation by the Inspector-General of Police’s Monitoring Unit. He is being investigated over allegations of cyberbullying and forgery of a police document, based on two separate petitions.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Special Intervention Squad, Abayomi Shogunle, who addressed some of Mr Sowore’s supporters on Friday, dismissed allegation of brutality. He said the activist was refusing to cooperate with the investigation, including declining to make a formal statement.

Meanwhile, protests for his release broke out in Lagos, Abuja, Oyo, and Osun states, with demonstrators accusing the police of attempting to silence opposition voices under the guise of criminal investigation.

Mr Sowore insisted that the authorities should apologise and grant him immediate access to adequate healthcare, describing the situation as a deliberate act of neglect and political intimidation.