The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, was released shortly after being detained by immigration officials.
Earlier reports indicated that Sowore was arrested on Sunday morning at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, upon his return to Nigeria.
Sowore shared the details of his detention via his X handle, saying, “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.”
He went on to urge Nigerians to resist tyranny and participate in the planned #FearlessInOctober protests set to commence on October 1, 2024.
Sowore’s flight had departed Washington Dulles International Airport at 6:14 a.m. EDT and arrived in Lagos around 9:43 a.m. local time.
A leaked DSS memo dated September 12, 2024, reportedly ordered Sowore’s arrest upon his arrival in Nigeria. However, following a brief detention, Sowore was released, and his passport was returned to him.
He later confirmed his release, writing on his X page: “I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport returned to me.”