Tuesday, October 13, 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. 

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar

Politics

Court fixes November for Atiku’s motion to amend eligibility suit against Tinubu, APC

The court fixed November 20 for ruling on an application filed by Atiku Abubakar to amend his suit against President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress.

Lagos

Alleged cultists terrorising Lekki-Ajah area captured: Police

The police command in Lagos says it has arrested four suspected cultists terrorising the Lekki, Ajah, Elemoro axis and environs.

States

Police nab alleged vehicle thief in Ondo

The police command in Ondo has arrested a suspected interstate vehicle thief and recovered a vehicle allegedly stolen from his employer in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

Alausa, Russian ambassador to Nigeria

Education

Nigeria’s education ministry helping Russia promote war-linked Alabuga Start recruitment: Report

A trafficking report highlighted the role of Nigeria’s education ministry in Russia’s fraudulent recruitment of Nigerians to fight in Ukraine.

States

Nigerian military kills several Boko Haram child soldiers in Adamawa

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai repelled an attack by Boko Haram, killing six insurgents in Garaha in the Hong council area of Adamawa.

Tinubu at FEC meeting

NationWide

U.S. keeps Nigeria on Tier 2 in 2026 trafficking report, cites official complicity

The U.S. has retained Nigeria in Tier 2 of its 2026 Trafficking in Persons report for not meeting the minimum standards for delisting due to corruption and official complicity.