Omoyele Sowore Released After Arrest at Lagos Airport

Omoyele Sowore, has Been Released by Nigerian Immigration.

iexclusivenews – Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, has been released shortly after his arrest at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos

The arrest, which occurred on Sunday morning, has sparked significant attention and concern among his supporters and the general public.

Omoyele Sowore’s Arrest at Lagos Airport

Omoyele Sowore was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) immediately upon his arrival in Nigeria from the United States.

His flight departed from Washington Dulles International Airport at 6:14 EDT and landed in Lagos at approximately 9:43 WAT.

Upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, Sowore’s passport was seized, and he was informed that there were orders to detain him.

In a statement on his X account, Sowore explained,

“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.”

Omoyele Sowore’s Release and Immediate Reactions

Shortly after his detention, Omoyele Sowore was released by the Nigerian Immigration Service, and his passport was returned to him.

In a follow-up post on his X account, Sowore confirmed his release, stating,

“I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport released back to me.”

The arrest and subsequent release of Sowore have drawn widespread reactions, particularly from his supporters and members of the Take It Back Movement, who had gathered at the airport to welcome him.

The incident has also reignited discussions about the Nigerian government’s stance on dissent and the treatment of political activists.

Background on Omoyele Sowore’s Arrest

The arrest of Omoyele Sowore was not entirely unexpected. On Thursday, September 12, 2024, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that a DSS memo ordering Sowore’s arrest upon his arrival in Nigeria had been leaked.

The memo, issued by the newly appointed DSS Director General, Adeola Ajayi, cited Sowore’s involvement in the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests as the reason for his detention.

The memo read, “DSE: 94/6203 X WATCHLIST ACTION X EYE AM DIRECTED TO INFO Y OURS THAT X THE DGSS HAS APPROVED THE UPGRADING OF WLA ‘B’ (REPORT ARRIVAL AND DESTINATION BY TELEPHONE IMMEDIATE LY) TO WLA ‘F’ (DETAIN TRAVELER AND ESCORT WITH BAGGAGE TO NHSS) X VIDE DSE: 9A/6201 X AGAINST OMOYELE SOWORE X AN ACTIVIST/FOUNDER OF SAHARA REPORTERS INC. X AN ONLINE NEWS AGENCY X THIS IS FOR YOUR STRICT COMPLIANCE X PLEASE X.”

Implications of Omoyele Sowore’s Arrest and Release

The arrest and release of Omoyele Sowore highlight the ongoing tensions between the Nigerian government and political activists.

Sowore, a prominent figure in the #RevolutionNow Movement, has been a vocal critic of the government and has faced multiple arrests in the past.

His recent detention underscores the challenges faced by activists in Nigeria and the government’s approach to handling dissent.

Sowore’s call for citizens to engage in planned direct actions on October 1 and beyond reflects his continued commitment to advocating for change in Nigeria.

“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,” he stated.

The brief detention and release of Omoyele Sowore at Lagos airport have once again brought attention to the issues of political dissent and government response in Nigeria.

As Sowore continues to advocate for change, his actions and the government’s reactions will likely remain a focal point in the country’s political landscape.