Nigerian Blogger Claims He Was Asked to Assassinate Activist Sowore

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Nigerian blogger and social commentator, Chizorom Harrisson Ofoegbu, popularly known as Ijele Speaks, has revealed that he was once approached with an offer to assassinate human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

The revelation came during Ijele’s appearance on the podcast “The King Of The Game,” where he discussed his past relationship with Sowore, founder of SaharaReporters, and the circumstances that led to a fallout between them.

According to Ijele, the request was made to him but he rejected it outright, stating that he hopes those close to Sowore would likewise refuse any such offers. “Yes, somebody made that offer to me. When we are off air, I will tell you who,” he said. He further claimed to have contacted a member of Nigeria’s Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), who dismissed the threat as insignificant.

Ijele said his past support for Sowore included lobbying on his behalf, sometimes without Sowore’s knowledge, and attending court proceedings even while politically aligned with former President Muhammadu Buhari. “Go to my old YouTube account… you will see ‘Free Omoyele Sowore’ there,” he noted.

However, the blogger cited disagreements over detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu as a key reason for their fallout. Ijele accused Sowore of aligning with actors he considered politically motivated in matters related to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“I even told him, this case you people have with him, make sure it doesn’t get to the 2023 election because that’s when you will see the impact of his incarceration. It’s not proper,” Ijele said, referring to Sowore’s legal challenges.

Despite his criticisms, Ijele acknowledged Sowore’s prominence as an activist. “He’s better than each and every one of them because he makes himself easily accessible to people that have a problem,” he said. Yet, he also claimed that Sowore sometimes focuses excessively on opposing the federal government, adding: “Sometimes the end goal is just to antagonise the Federal Government… there is this mindless hatred.”

Ijele’s comments come against the backdrop of recent political activism, where he led a group called Rescue Alaigbo to protest against calls for Kanu’s release. The protesters, who gathered in Abuja with placards and national flags, said their demonstration was aimed at promoting national unity and justice for victims of insecurity in the South East.

Meanwhile, Sowore continues his campaign for Kanu’s release, announcing a protest march to Aso Rock Villa scheduled for October 20, 2025, under the hashtag #FreeNnamdiKanuNow, rallying politicians and grassroots supporters alike.