Omoyele Sowore, the #RevolutionNow Movement leader and publisher of SaharaReporters was on Sunday arrested at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Sowore was detained by officers of Nigerian Immigration Service following alleged directive by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Members of the Take It Back Movement and other activists had gathered at the airport in anticipation of his homecoming before the incident.
Previously in the United States with his family, Sowore’s journey began at Washington Dulles International Airport at 6:14 EDT, culminating in his arrival in Lagos at approximately 9:43 WAT.
Reports emerged last Thursday of a DSS directive to detain Sowore upon his arrival, which had allegedly been leaked to the public.
Reacting to this information, Sowore had criticized the DSS for attempting to arrest him, declaring his intent to return to Nigeria “very soon.”
On Thursday, Sowore took to social media, expressing his dismay at the government’s priorities. “The current administration, led by Tinubu, has shown an inability to effectively track terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers,” he stated. He further mentioned that while others evaded justice, his name had been added to the DSS watchlist for his imminent arrest upon arrival.
Earlier in September, there were reports that the DSS had issued orders to airport security and immigration to intercept Sowore. According to sources, this directive came from DSS Director General Adeola Ajayi, allegedly due to Sowore’s involvement in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
An insider at Murtala Muhammed International Airport confirmed that Sowore’s name had been included on a security watchlist, with specific instructions to detain him upon his return to Nigeria.
During an interview earlier this month, Sowore revealed that credible sources had informed him about his status on the DSS watchlist. Despite the warnings, he affirmed his intention to return to Nigeria, emphasizing his commitment to the country and his cause.
Sowore criticized the DSS’s priorities, arguing that the focus on political vendettas detracted from efforts to address the country’s pressing security challenges. He further declared, “I will go to Nigeria whenever I want to go to Nigeria; it is my country. I don’t have any other country.”
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