A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) to investigate the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, over allegations of abduction, torture and unlawful detention of activist, Mr. Hassan Taiwo Soweto, during a protest held in January.
In a petition dated March 9, 2026, the groups accused the police commissioner of supervising actions that allegedly violated the rights of protesters during a demonstration staged on January 28.
The petition was signed by 15 organisations, including the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Justice and Empowerment Initiatives (JEI), Take It Back Movement (TIB), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and the Joint Action Front (JAF), among others.
Allegations of Assault and Unlawful Arrest
Addressed to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, the petition alleged that Moshood ordered police officers to disperse protesters with tear gas and later supervised the arrest and assault of Soweto at the protest venue.
According to the civil society groups, the protest drew more than 5,000 participants from communities including Makoko, Owode Onirin, Oworonshoki and Ajegunle, who gathered to demand an end to forced evictions and demolitions in parts of Lagos State.
The organisations claimed that despite reports that the protest was peaceful, police officers fired tear gas near the Lagos State House of Assembly complex in Alausa, resulting in injuries to at least two protesters and a passer-by.
One of the injured protesters, Kafayat Muftaudeen, was reportedly hospitalised for seven days at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital after being struck by a tear-gas canister, the petition stated.
Medical Report Details Injuries
The petitioners further alleged that Soweto was arrested at the protest venue and dragged into the Assembly complex, where he was blindfolded, handcuffed and beaten by several police officers.
They cited a medical report dated January 29, 2026, from Cityview Hospital in Ogba, Lagos, which reportedly confirmed that the activist sustained multiple injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma, including bruises, abrasions and a hematoma near the mouth.
According to the groups, repeated kicks to Soweto’s back worsened a previous lumbar condition, as indicated by an MRI examination, leaving him with severe pain while walking, bending, sitting or standing.
The coalition added that the activist has since been undergoing weekly physiotherapy sessions involving cryotherapy, TENS therapy and lumbar stabilisation exercises at a health facility in Lagos.
Claims of Detention Without Access to Lawyer
The CSOs also alleged that while Soweto was detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, he was denied access to his lawyer and family members.
According to the petition, officers reportedly told the activist that they were acting on the orders of the Lagos police commissioner.
The organisations further claimed that the confrontation occurred after Soweto challenged the commissioner during the protest over alleged police involvement in enforcing demolitions and evictions on behalf of land developers.
Concerns Over Evictions and Demolitions
The coalition also raised concerns about reported police participation in violent eviction operations in communities such as Makoko, Oworonshoki and Owode Onirin, where residents allegedly suffered injuries and deaths during demolition enforcement activities.
They urged the Police Service Commission to institute an independent investigation into the incident and invite Moshood and other officers involved to respond to the allegations.
The petitioners further requested that the commission suspend any consideration of the commissioner’s promotion pending the outcome of the probe.
Moshood is reportedly among senior officers being considered for elevation to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).
CSOs Warn Against Promotion Without Probe
The civil society organisations argued that promoting an officer facing such allegations without a transparent investigation could undermine public confidence in the police disciplinary system.
“The Police Service Commission, as the constitutional body responsible for the appointment, promotion and discipline of officers of the Nigeria Police Force, has a duty to uphold accountability and professionalism within the Force,” the organizations stated.
They added that how the commission handles the petition will send a strong signal about its commitment to police accountability and the protection of human rights.
Police Commissioner Denies Allegations
However, Commissioner Jimoh Moshood has denied the allegations, insisting that the police acted professionally during the protest.
Speaking in an interview in January, Moshood dismissed claims that the activist was assaulted by officers deployed to the protest.
“I don’t have any reason whatsoever to brutalise Taiwo Hassan and Dele Frank. As he has said that I, as Commissioner of Police, supervised his being beaten during the protest, it’s not correct. That is not true. I was not part of even when he was arrested,” Moshood said.
Other Signatories to the Petition
Other groups that signed the petition include The Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTiON), Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM), #EndBadGovernance Movement (Lagos State), The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), Activista Nigeria, Voice of the Masses and Support for Credible Leadership (VMSCL), Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON), FCT Abuja Chapter, United Campaign Against Anti-People Policies (UCAPP) and the Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM).
Share this
