The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested.
PUNCH Online gathered that Sowore was arrested on Sunday morning at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.
His flight left Washington Dulles International Airport at 6.14 EDT and arrived in Lagos at around 9.43 am.
On Thursday, 12 September 2024, a DSS memo ordering the arrest of Sowore upon his arrival in Nigeria was leaked.
In a post via his official X handle, Sowore disclosed that he had been detained by the Nigerian Immigration Service and his international passport had been confiscated.
He wrote, “I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA at MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me.
“This is not unexpected because I have always known that it is part of the broader clampdown by the fascist @officialAbat regime on dissent and their fear of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt.
“In case this becomes another prolonged and protracted detention, I urge our citizens to ensure they ALL stop tyranny by all means acceptable and necessary, by engaging in the planned series of direct actions slated for 1 October and beyond.”
Fortunately, Sowore was released minutes later, with his passport returned. He announced: “I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport released back to me.”
Although unclear who ordered his detention, reports suggest officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) were involved. The DSS has yet to confirm or deny Sowore’s arrest.
Sowore’s experience highlights concerns about Nigeria’s human rights and freedom of speech. As a prominent advocate for change, Sowore’s detention sparked worries among supporters and human rights activists.
The incident precedes the planned #FearlessINOctober protests, which aim to address Nigeria’s socio-political issues. Sowore’s brief detention may fuel further tensions and calls for reform in the country.
