Popular Nigerian activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival in Lagos on Sunday morning, September 15. The arrest was confirmed by Sowore himself in a post on X.
The activist stated that his international passport was confiscated by Nigerian Immigration officials, who informed him that they had orders to detain him. Sowore attributed the arrest to the Nigerian government’s crackdown on dissent and fear of the upcoming “FearlessINOctober” revolt.
In anticipation of a prolonged detention, Sowore urged his supporters to participate in planned direct actions scheduled for October 1st and beyond to resist the government’s tyranny.
He wrote: “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. This is not un expected 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. #EndBadGovernaceInNigerianow #RevolutionNow.”
Prior to his arrest, Sowore had revealed on social media that Nigerian security forces were attempting to track him down in his hometown and frame him on false charges.
As news of the arrest spread, Sowore’s supporters gathered at the airport, demanding his immediate release and threatening to disrupt airport operations if he was not freed.
