Nigerian activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore faced another round of detention by immigration officials at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos as he returned from Accra, Ghana.
On Friday, SaharaReporters reported that Sowore was initially stopped by immigration officers while traveling to Ghana earlier that day. Upon his return on Sunday, he encountered similar issues, with officials citing his inclusion on a watchlist as the reason for his detention. Eventually, he was permitted to leave the airport.
“They seemed anxious and were running around, contacting their superiors,” Sowore remarked after being released.
A vocal critic of Nigeria’s governance, Sowore took to his X account to share his experiences of harassment at the hands of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), describing it as a violation of his rights. He noted, “Once again, they stopped me on my way out of Nigeria, claiming I am on their WATCHLIST! #RevolutionNow.”
Despite the delays caused by immigration officials, Sowore was ultimately allowed to proceed with his travels. He interpreted the repeated harassment as a tactic of intimidation from the Nigerian government due to his activism.
Sowore, who leads the #RevolutionNow movement and is the publisher of SaharaReporters, has been a target for government crackdowns due to his efforts in organizing protests and denouncing corruption. His history includes multiple instances of harassment, detention, and even physical assaults by security forces.
In a related incident earlier in September, Sowore was briefly detained upon arriving in Lagos from the United States, where his passport was confiscated before it was returned.
Background
On September 12, 2024, SaharaReporters revealed a leaked memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) that ordered Sowore’s arrest upon his entry into Nigeria. Following this, Sowore criticized the DSS for issuing such a directive and expressed his intent to return home soon.
He remarked, “The current administration, led by Tinubu, has shown an alarming inability to effectively track and apprehend terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, while the EFCC has yet to arrest former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.” He emphasized the need for liberation and significant effort to save Nigeria.
Sowore’s troubles at the airport appear to stem from his involvement in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, with orders from the newly appointed DSS Director General, Adeola Ajayi, to intercept him upon arrival.
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