LAGOS, Nigeria — Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general election, was briefly detained on Sunday, September 15, 2024, upon his return from the United States at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Sowore, who has long been known for his activism and criticism of the government, revealed that immigration officials seized his passport and informed him they were following orders to detain him.
Sowore, in a statement posted on his X account (formerly Twitter), suggested that the detention was part of a broader government effort to suppress dissent.
He has been actively involved in the #RevolutionNow movement and continues to call for reforms in Nigeria.
“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,” Sowore stated, adding, “This is not unexpected because I have always known that it is part of the broader clampdown by the fascist regime on dissent and their fear of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt.”
What Transpired Between Me and the @NigImmigration today during a brief encounter that led to the ‘seizure’ of my Intl Passport and detention at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos. #FearlessInOctober pic.twitter.com/JUe7gVplOF
— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) September 15, 2024
Sowore was released after a short period, and his passport was returned.
He used the opportunity to rally support for ongoing direct actions against what he described as tyranny.
The activist urged Nigerians to resist the government’s actions through planned protests scheduled to begin on October 1st.
“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,” he added.
While the circumstances surrounding the detention order remain unclear, there have been reports suggesting that the Department of State Services (DSS) may have been involved.
However, the DSS has yet to confirm or deny these claims.
Sowore’s detention highlights the ongoing tension between the Nigerian government and activists, as Sowore has consistently advocated for civil liberties and criticised government policies.
His brief detention and the subsequent release come amid increasing concerns over the government’s approach to dissent.
