Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Government complicit in my brother’s murder, Sowore alleges one year after

The younger Sowore was on September 4, 2021 shot dead while allegedly trying to escape from armed bandits suspected to be kidnappers.

• September 4, 2022
Omoyele Sowore (Credit: Channels TV)
Omoyele Sowore (Credit: Channels TV)

Human Rights activist Omoyele Sowore has alleged that agents of government were responsible for the death of his younger brother Olajide who was killed a year ago in Benin.

Mr Sowore’s latest position came exactly a year that Mr Olajide, was killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Edo.

“A year ago, my immediate younger brother Olajide Felix Sowore was brutally cut down by forces undoubtedly connected to the Muhammadu Buhari regime.

“I say it without hesitation that events following his brutal murder points to State complicity,” enraged Mr Sowore wrote on Sunday. 

The younger Sowore was on September 4, 2021 shot dead while allegedly trying to escape from armed bandits suspected to be kidnappers, on his way from Igbinedion University in Edo State where he was studying pharmacy.

His murder sparked angry reactions and attracted wide condemnation from different political and social groups in the country with a special call on the police to fish out his killers. 

Taking to Twitter on Sunday through his handle @Yelesowore, the renowned activist condemned the attitude of the police in investigating the gruesome death of his younger brother. 

Mr Sowore, who is also a presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, said the family decided to lay the remains of Mr Olajide to rest since the Buhari’s regime had no interest in getting justice for the deceased. 

“Upon his gruesome murder our family made several efforts to resolve his murder by cooperating with the Nigeria Police Force, despite several meetings and phone conversations nothing concrete was done to unravel his killers except the police trying to cajole the family to bury him without carrying out an autopsy.

“Shortly after his burial, the Police presented photos of two young men they alleged were “Fulani herdsmen/kidnappers” they arrested in a forest. 

“They stated that these men had “confessed” to killing my brother during a kidnapping operation at an abandoned Police checkpoint near Benin City.

“They promised to commence prosecution in two weeks, that was in October 2021. We never heard back from the Nigeria police again.”

While noting that the death of Mr Olajide would not go in vain, the senior Sowore promised to ensure that justice is served to his killers. 

“However, we remain committed to ensuring that his death will not be in vain and that the conditions that permit the unconscionable termination of life by dark forces propelled by impunity, incompetence and complicity in Nigeria would be wiped out during our time; as a result, those responsible for his murder should not rejoice. Justice will prevail no matter how long it is delayed.” He further wrote. 

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