By Dipo Olowookere
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last general elections in Nigeria, Mr Omoyele Sowore, has regained freedom after he was arrested by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and kept in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) on his return to the country from the United States on Sunday.
The activist had hinted at his planned arrest by the DSS last week on his return to Nigeria apparently because of a call for a nationwide protest scheduled for October 1, a day the country celebrates its Independence Day remembrance.
As he landed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos today, he announced his apprehension by security officials, urging his supporters to proceed with the planned demonstration if he was not released on time.
“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 unexpected because I have always known that It is part of the broader clampdown by the fascist Bola Ahmed Tinubu 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,” Mr Sowore, who owns a popular online website, Sahara Reporters, posted.
But a moment later, he wrote, “I have just been released by the Nigerian immigration after a brief detention and my passport released to me.”