Lagos, Nigeria β Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has been released after being detained by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Sowore, who had just arrived from the United States, was held at the airport due to a directive from the Department of State Services (DSS). His passport was temporarily seized, and authorities contacted the DSS for further instructions. Sowore was placed on a watchlist by the DSS over his involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The activist, who was detained shortly after landing, confirmed his release to *Sahara Reporters*, stating, “I have just been released. My passport and everything have been returned to me.”
Sowore’s arrival was closely monitored by members of the Take It Back Movement and other supporters, who gathered at the airport in anticipation of his return. The activist had been in the U.S. with his family before boarding a flight from Washington Dulles International Airport, which arrived in Lagos early Sunday morning.
**Background**
On September 12, 2024, it was reported that the DSS had issued a memo ordering Sowore’s arrest upon his return to Nigeria. The directive, approved by DSS Director General Adeola Ajayi, was linked to Sowore’s role in the #EndBadGovernance protests and his planned participation in another protest scheduled for October 1.
In response to the leaked memo, Sowore criticized the DSS and the current administration under President Bola Tinubu for targeting political activists while failing to address ongoing security challenges in the country.
Despite being placed on the DSS watchlist, Sowore remained defiant, declaring his intention to return to Nigeria whenever he wished, stating, “I will go to Nigeria whenever I want to go. It is my country.”
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has been a vocal critic of the Nigerian government and a prominent figure in protests advocating for governance reforms and the protection of civil rights.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions between the Nigerian government and pro-democracy activists, with Sowore continuing to challenge authorities despite multiple attempts to suppress his activism.
