Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), revealed on Sunday that he was briefly detained at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos upon his arrival from the United States.
Sowore, also the convener of the #RevolutionNow protest, shared his experience on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA to the MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me.”
He attributed the detention to the “fascist @officialAbat regime’s” clampdown on dissent, fearing the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt. Sowore urged citizens to resist tyranny through direct actions slated for October 1st and beyond, saying: “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.”
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.
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