Nigerian Presidential Candidate Omoyele Sowore Arrested Upon Arrival in Lagos
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, has been arrested upon his arrival in Lagos, Nigeria. According to reports, Sowore was detained by the Nigerian Immigration Service and his international passport was confiscated at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Sowore’s flight from Washington Dulles International Airport in the United States arrived in Lagos at around 9:43 am on Sunday morning. A memo ordering his arrest was leaked on Thursday, September 12, 2024, by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a post on his official X handle, Sowore revealed his detention and expressed his expectation of a prolonged and protracted detention. 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."
Sowore urged his citizens to take action against tyranny and engage in direct actions planned for October 1 and beyond. The exact nature and duration of his detention remain unclear, but the arrest has sparked concerns about the Nigerian government’s treatment of dissenting voices.
As the world watches the unfolding situation, Sowore’s arrest serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for democracy and human rights in Nigeria.
