We Will Flog You in Abuja!” — Arewa Youth Leader, Christian Group, NANS Loyalists Threaten Sowore Over Attacks on Abacha, Religious Figures
A disturbing wave of coordinated threats is mounting against human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, as political, regional, and religious loyalists across Nigeria unite in what appears to be a multi-pronged campaign to intimidate and silence the outspoken journalist.
At the forefront is Abdul Dambature, a self-proclaimed northern youth leader, who in a fiery video posted online, issued a direct threat of violence against Sowore over his recent criticisms of former northern military dictators, including the late General Sani Abacha.
In the viral footage, Dambature, who introduced himself as the President of Northern Nigerian Youths, warned that Sowore would be physically attacked on the streets of Abuja if he continued to “disrespect northern elders.”
“Enough is enough,” he declared. “We will flog you in the streets of Abuja if you ever speak against our leaders again. General Sani Abacha is a sterling icon and must not be insulted.”
The threat follows Sowore’s recent online post where he mocked the celebration by the Abacha family, stating, “Imagine Abacha family celebrating the fact that their ex-maximum dictator father left Nigeria better than Tinubu is running it!”
Sowore had also blasted former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida, calling him a “craze man” after Babangida made a controversial remark downplaying the tragic flooding in Niger State that claimed over 200 lives.
Coordinated Threats from Multiple Fronts
Dambature’s threat is the latest in a string of increasingly aggressive actions targeting Sowore from various quarters. In May, a group of Christian youth activists associated with prosperity preachers also threatened to “take the law into their own hands” over Sowore’s vocal defence of content creators and critics of religious leaders.
The group’s convener, James Adama Paul, accused Sowore of waging war against the Church and warned of vigilante reprisals if he continued to “intervene in church matters.”
Another front of hostility has emerged from a faction of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), reportedly aligned with Seyi Tinubu, son of the President. Some NANS officials have publicly admitted to attacking one of their own—factional President Atiku Isah—and have now turned their ire toward Sowore and social media activist VeryDarkMan.
A NANS Senate President, Akinteye Babtee Babatunde, accused Sowore of trying to “set Nigeria on fire” for international attention and demanded “bold actions” against him. Under the post, other NANS members called for direct engagement and even “discipline” against the SaharaReporters publisher.
Sowore Raises Alarm Over Threats to Life
Sowore has responded to the growing threats with alarm. In a recent post, he listed his alleged persecutors: “The illegal Inspector-General of Police is after me! Prosperity Pastors are after me! NANS cultists are on my case! Mr. Peter Obi and his mob are after me! Tinubu is after my life! Arewa Twitter mob after me!”
He linked the intimidation efforts to his continued activism against corruption, police brutality, and decaying national institutions.
Sowore has been a frequent target of state oppression in the past. Arrested in 2019 for calling for a peaceful revolution, he was detained for months by the Department of State Services (DSS) and has survived multiple assaults since.
As threats intensify from all corners — northern youth leaders, religious extremists, student union factions, and political loyalists — concerns are growing over Sowore’s safety and the broader implications for freedom of expression in Nigeria.
Mounting Calls for Government Silence and Complicity
Despite the open threats, including documented video messages, Nigerian security authorities have yet to make any arrests or issue formal condemnations — a silence critics interpret as tacit approval of efforts to stifle dissent.
The threats against Sowore come at a dangerous intersection of authoritarian nostalgia, religious extremism, and political thuggery — all converging to suppress one of the country’s most visible and fearless critics.
