Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has been released after a brief detention.
Sowore was said to have been detained on Sunday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, upon his arrival in Nigeria.
Confirming the arrest earlier on Sunday, the convener of the #RevolutionNow protest, said he had been detained by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
“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,” he wrote.
“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.”
Shortly afterward, Sowore confirmed his release via his X handle, saying, “I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport released back to me. #RevolutionNow.”
News About Nigeria learnt that day that members of the Take It Back Movement and other activists gathered at the airport in anticipation of his arrival.
Sowore’s arrest may be related to the 10-day #EndBadGovernance protest which was held across the country in August.
However, another protest is being planned by organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest, scheduled for October 1.
