Nigeria Police Doing Hit Jobs For Gangsters — Sowore Slams Detention Of Vlogger Who Criticized Apostle Suleman's 'Miracle Money'

Omoyele Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist, has called for the immediate release of vlogger, Israel Balogun, by the Nigeria Police Force.

Balogun, in a video, criticized the claims made by the founder of Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman that he commanded angels to deposit money in the bank accounts of some worshippers in Auchi, Edo State, and Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

On Wednesday, the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID) detained Balogun for criticising Suleiman over the cleric's claim that he commanded angels to deposit money in the bank accounts of some members of his congregation.

Counsel for Balogun, Barrister Inibehe Effiong disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after he accompanied Balogun to the FCIID at Area 10, Garki, Abuja over a petition written against him by Suleman on alleged criminal defamation and cyberstalking.

Reacting, Sowore stated that the Nigeria Police Force is being used by non-state gangsters, citing similar cases of abuse of power by the police.

Sowore queried the rationale behind the arrest of Balogun and called for the release of the detained blogger.

He said, "It is a shame that Nigeria Police Force would offer itself up to be hired for personal hit jobs on behalf of gangsters instead of going after the gangsters in government as well as non-state gangsters.

“How do you detain a YouTuber for criticising scams known as 'miracle money alerts?' The IGP (Inspector-General of Police) must release Israel Balogun immediately! He’s not committed any offence known to law against Apostle Johnson Suleman.

“In recent weeks we’ve seen how the Police was used by a former Attorney General, Bello Adoke to go after Olanrewaju Suraju for exposing his corruption, a former minister, Femi Fani-Kayode deployed the police against his estranged wife, Precious Chikwendu and now a clergy has procured the police hierarchy to hunt down free speech.

“Yesterday, I heard a former Governor Of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim also used the police at the FCIID against an estranged mistress.

“The Katsina state Gov. Bello Masari a few months ago used the FCIID to hound a whistleblower Shehu Mahdi for allegedly defaming him.

“These cases are some of the many cases of abuse of police power that is notoriously rampant. We must stop the police authorities now before they provoke another #EndSARS! #RevolutionNow.”