The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, was released shortly after his arrest.
According to reports that Sowore was detained on Sunday morning at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.
He wrote, “I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA at MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me.
“This is not unexpected because I have always known that it is part of the broader clampdown by the fascist @officialAbat 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 1 October and beyond.”
His flight departed from Washington Dulles International Airport at 6:14 EDT and landed in Lagos at approximately 9:43 AM.
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, a leaked DSS memo revealed an order for Sowore’s arrest upon his arrival in Nigeria.
However, Sowore later announced via his official X account that he had been released by the Nigerian Immigration Service and that his passport, which had been previously confiscated, was returned to him.
He wrote, “I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport released back to me.”