Sahara Reporters publisher and Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested as he arrived Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria, around 9.43 am on Sunday.
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 upon landing in Nigeria on Sunday, disclosed that he had been detained by the Nigerian Immigration Service and his international passport 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.”
Recall that Sowore had criticised the secret police for upgrading his status and name on its “watchlist”.
The activist had shared a copy of the DSS signal where his status on watchlist was upgraded on Thursday.
The signal dated August 16, 2024, and signed by Adeola Ali, ordered operatives to arrest Sowore upon his arrival in the country.
It read: “I am directed to inform you that the DSSDG has approved the upgrading of Watchlist B ( Report arrival and destination by telephone immediately ) to Watchlist F (Detain traveller and escort with baggage to National Headquarters. Vide DSE: 9A/6201 against Omoyele Sowore, an activist and founder of Sahara Reporters. This is for your strict compliance.”
Sowore, in spite of the directives, vowed to return home very soon.
He said: “The current administration, led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has demonstrated an upgraded inability to effectively track and apprehend terrorism suspects, bandits, and kidnappers, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has yet to arrest former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
“Meanwhile, the DSS has upgraded my status and name on their “watchlist” for arrest upon arrival in Nigeria.
“It is imperative to recognise that our country, Nigeria, requires salvation, and our people need liberation, which will necessitate considerable effort.
“We cannot stop because we have some misguided elements running our country because they hijacked power, illegitimately. I intend to return home shortly, I mean VERY SOON.”
However, shortly after his arrest and passport confiscation, he was released, his passport returned and even showed up on Arise television where he was interviewed by Reuben Abati.