The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested prominent Nigerian activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, on Sunday morning, September 15, upon his return to Nigeria.
Sowore reveals arrest on social media
Sowore, widely known for his vocal criticism of the Nigerian government, disclosed his arrest in a post shared on X (formerly Twitter). In his post, he stated:
“DETAINED BY THE @NigerianImmigration, my International passport confiscated. 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 further added that this was not unexpected:
“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 October 1st and beyond. #EndBadGovernanceInNigeriaNow #RevolutionNow.”
Security forces tracking Sowore prior to arrest
Prior to his arrest, Sowore had shared on Saturday that Nigerian security forces were allegedly tracking him in his hometown in Ondo State, accusing them of framing him with false charges. He wrote:
“Yeah! All around in my hometown, they’re tryin’ to track me down, yeah! They say they want to bring me in guilty. However, Babylon must fall! #FearlessInOctober.”
Supporters gather at Lagos airport demanding Sowore’s release
As of this report, a group of Sowore’s supporters had gathered at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), demanding his immediate release. They threatened that no one would be allowed to enter or exit the airport unless Sowore was set free.
Omoyele Sowore is not being allowed out of the airport so Nigerians have blocked the airport. They either allow Sowore go or no one leaves. Watch the Livestream on Tiktok using this linkhttps://t.co/ByPJYSKpwp pic.twitter.com/89peeJC09D
— SUOAZ 🩺M.D🩺 (@SuoazOfficial) September 15, 2024