A journalist covering the Lagos Marathon was allegedly detained by a group associated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and forced to delete footage capturing an assault on human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, his team, and other journalists.
The incident occurred shortly after Sowore completed the 2025 Lagos City Marathon. According to reports, a group of thugs confronted him and his team, accusing them of illegally occupying the “VVIP” section of the event. The situation escalated into violence.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the attack was orchestrated by Bukola Olopade, the Director General of the National Sports Commission and one of the marathonâs organizers. During the scuffle, journalists attempting to record the event were also targeted.
One of the journalists, identified as Ufuoma, was physically assaulted, and his camera was forcibly taken from him. He later revealed that he was offered N2 million to abandon his footage and replace his camera.
“While filming the attack, a woman among the assailants spotted me and called others to seize my camera. I was surrounded, beaten, and overpowered before they took my camera away,” Ufuoma recounted.
He further explained that, at first, the attackers denied knowing the whereabouts of his camera. However, Olopade later admitted it was in their possession.
“After hours of pleading, they finally acknowledged they had my camera. They then took me to Eko Hotels and Suites, where they were lodged. Olopade ordered his men to return the camera but only after reviewing and deleting certain footage,” he added.
According to Ufuoma, the deleted clips included the moment Sowore crossed the finish line and scenes showing Olopade allegedly instructing the thugs to attack.
Additionally, reports indicate that Olopade repeatedly threatened Sowore over the phone while overseeing the deletion of the recordings.
Reacting to the incident, the Take It Back Movement strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “politically motivated aggression.” They demanded a public apology from the marathon organizers and called for the immediate arrest of Olopade and those involved.
However, Olopade denied the accusations, insisting that he was only trying to calm tensions.
“You can see from the video Sowore himself posted; I was actually trying to persuade him to return. I never threatened him,” he stated.
Omoyele Sowore is a well-known activist and vocal critic of the Nigerian government, particularly the ruling APC. He is the founder of Sahara Reporters, a media platform famous for investigative journalism exposing corruption and government misconduct.
Sowore has consistently challenged APC leaders, including prominent figures in the Lagos State Government, accusing them of corruption and authoritarian practices.
He contested the presidency under the African Action Congress (AAC) in both the 2019 and 2023 general elections, campaigning on anti-corruption, radical political change, and social justice.
His activism has led to multiple arrests by Nigerian security forces, including the Department of State Services (DSS), on allegations of treason and inciting protests such as the #RevolutionNow movement, which called for governance reforms.
Soworeâs continuous confrontation with the government has made him a frequent target of political persecution.
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Things dey happen oo