Activist Gwamnishu summoned by police over serious allegations

A letter from the police dated 1 June invited Mr Gwamnishu for questioning. The letter stated that the police were looking into a case of "conspiracy, attempted murder, incitement to engage in terrorism, communal war and obstruction."

Mr Gwamnishu is to meet the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department. He will go through the Officer-in-Charge of Homicide at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Asaba on 4 June.

This situation comes amid rising tensions between Mr Gwamnishu and the police in Delta. This follows his ongoing criticism of police actions and his work on several high-profile cases in the state.

On Monday, Mr Gwamnishu reacted to the police letter on Facebook. He expressed shock at the claims made in the invitation.

"I returned from court for Oghenemine’s case and the Nigeria Police Force, Delta State Command, sent me Happy New Letter," he wrote.

"Case of Attempted Murder, incitement to engage in Terrorism.

"I wish to inform everyone that Delta State Police Command have nothing on me and they have been planning massively against me."

In a Facebook video recorded on 25 May, before the police invitation, Mr Gwamnishu said people had warned him about plans to set him up. He mentioned that he was worried after hearing that some people were plotting against him.

The activist denied any involvement in crime. He said his public actions were aimed at revealing abuses and helping to fight insecurity.

"I only posted Oghenemine’s case for public awareness to end police brutality. That when a suspect is arrested, you don’t kill a suspect. When the suspect is already cooperating with you, why kill him?" he said.

Mr Gwamnishu defended his regular posts on social media about kidnappings and security issues in Delta State.

"I am not taking the work of the police or the military. I am only assisting," he said.

He explained that his advocacy often includes sharing information with government officials, such as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and other senior state officials.

The activist expressed fear that he might be falsely accused of a crime.

"Tomorrow, they can see me on the road and say I own a gun. Not true. I don’t own a gun. There is a plan on grounds against me," he said in the video.

He reached out to Governor Oborevwori to ask for a meeting and discuss his concerns.

Mr Gwamnishu is known as one of the leading rights advocates in Delta State. He often uses social media to highlight alleged police misconduct, extortion, and human rights violations.

Reports have shown that many of his complaints led to police investigations and disciplinary actions against officers accused of wrongdoing.

In March and April this year, reports described how police looked into allegations Mr Gwamnishu raised about the kidnapping and extortion of citizens by police operatives. Some victims even got refunds for money that was taken from them.

Mr Gwamnishu also gained national attention in 2024 after he accused officers of the Force Criminal Investigation Department of extorting money from a resident in Edo State. This prompted an official police investigation.

In April 2025, he stepped down as senior special assistant on civil society and youth mobilization to Governor Oborevwori. He cited increasing insecurity and the government’s failure to act on his recommendations as reasons for his resignation.

Reports from that time showed that he blamed rising kidnapping and robbery incidents for his decision.

Most recently, he has been a strong voice calling for justice over the killing of Delta resident Oghenemine Ogidi, also known as Mene Ogidi. A police officer allegedly shot him in Effurun. This incident led to protests and more scrutiny of police actions in the state.

As of now, the police in Delta have not shared details about the allegations in the invitation letter or explained how Mr Gwamnishu is connected to the investigation.

On Monday, the police had not made any statements about the situation.

Mr Gwamnishu is expected to appear before the police in Asaba on Thursday.