The Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Sowore was taken into custody on Sunday, immediately after landing in Nigeria.
Earlier that day, SaharaReporters revealed that members of the Take It Back Movement, along with other activists, had gathered at the airport to await Sowore’s return to the country.
Sowore, who had been staying with his family in the United States, criticized the DSS for issuing an order to arrest him upon his arrival, stating that he had intended to return to Nigeria “very soon.”
His flight departed from Washington Dulles International Airport at 6:14 AM EDT and touched down in Lagos at approximately 9:43 AM WAT.
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, SaharaReporters exclusively disclosed that a leaked DSS memo had revealed plans to arrest Sowore upon his return to Nigeria.
In a post on his X account on Thursday, Sowore said, “The current administration, led by Tinubu, has demonstrated an upgraded inability to effectively track and apprehend terrorism suspects, bandits, and kidnappers, while the @officialEFCC has yet to arrest former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.
READ ALSO: Leaked DSS Memo Exposes Secret Police Orders for Immediate Arrest of Sowore Upon Arrival in Nigeria
“Meanwhile, the lawless @OfficialDSSNG has upgraded my status and name on their “watchlist” for arrest upon arrival in Nigeria.”
“It is imperative to recognise that our country Nigeria requires salvation and our people need liberation, which will necessitate considerable effort. I intend to return home shortly, I mean very soon,” he said.
Earlier in September, SaharaReporters revealed that Nigeria’s secret police, the DSS, had ordered airport security and immigration officials to intercept and detain Sowore upon his return to Nigeria.
The directive, reportedly issued by the newly appointed DSS Director General, Adeola Ajayi, was linked to Sowore’s involvement in the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests.
The memo obtained by SaharaReporters last Thursday read, “DSE: 94/6203 X WATCHLIST ACTION X EYE AM DIRECTED TO INFO Y OURS THAT X THE DGSS HAS APPROVED THE UPGRADING OF WLA
“’B’ (REPORT ARRIVAL AND DESTINATION BY TELEPHONE IMMEDIATE LY) TO WLA ‘F’ (DETAIN TRAVELER AND ESCORT WITH BAGGAGE TO NHSS) X VIDE DSE: 9A/6201 X AGAINST OMOYELE SOWORE X AN AC TIVIST/FOUNDER OF SAHARA REPORTERS INC. X AN ONLINE NEWS AGENCY X THIS IS FOR YOUR STRICT COMPLIANCE X PLEASE X.”
The memo was signed by Adeola D. Ali on behalf of NISEC NHSS.
Meanwhile, a reliable source at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos recently informed SaharaReporters that DSS Director General Adeola Ajayi had placed Sowore on a security watchlist, citing his involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests and the upcoming October 1 demonstration as reasons.
“The new DSS chief sent Sowore’s name to airport security, instructing them to arrest him upon his return to the country,” the source disclosed.
During a September 4, 2024 interview with Cordelia Okpei on “The Voice of the Peoples” program, Sowore shared alarming details.
The human rights activist and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate confirmed that he had received reliable intelligence indicating that his name had been forwarded to airport security by the newly appointed DSS Director General.
According to Sowore, the directive orders his immediate arrest upon arrival. He also criticized the new DSS leadership, accusing them of focusing on political vendettas instead of tackling Nigeria’s widespread insecurity.
“We have planned our next protest for October,” Sowore said. “They’ve called me several times. I’ve been told by multiple sources that my name is on the airport watchlist. They’ll likely arrest me when I return, but that won’t stop me. Nigeria is my country; I have no other home.
“We must stand up to these people. We’ve seen oppressors, bullies, and tyrants before. But the real issue is that they’ve caused more harm to the Nigerian people than to anyone else.
“So I see no point in advising the new leadership, who are clearly there to do the president’s bidding. Even as we speak, the new DSS chief refreshed my watchlist status yesterday, instructing airport security to arrest me and bring me to his office when I arrive.”
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