Sowore released after arrest at Lagos airport

Nigeria’s Presidential Candidate, Omoyele Sowore, Released After Brief Detention at Lagos Airport

Lagos – Omoyele Sowore released after arrest at Lagos airport, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, has been released from detention by the Nigerian Immigration Service minutes after his arrest at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.

Sowore, who had just arrived in Nigeria from the United States, was taken into custody by immigration officials after his passport was seized. In a statement on his social media handle, he claimed that the authorities told him they had orders to detain him.

Sowore, who has been a vocal critic of the Nigerian government, linked his arrest to the broader clampdown on dissent and the fear of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt. He urged his followers to resist tyranny by engaging in direct actions slated for October 1 and beyond.

The 2023 presidential candidate’s arrest comes after a memo ordering his detention upon arrival in Nigeria was leaked on Thursday. According to reports, Sowore’s flight departed from Washington Dulles International Airport at 6:14 EDT and arrived in Lagos at around 9:43 am.

In a post on his official social media handle, Sowore confirmed that he had been released from detention and his passport had been returned to him after being confiscated earlier. The release has sparked widespread reactions and calls for peaceful protests against the alleged clampdown on dissent.

The incident has raised concerns about the government’s handling of political opposition and its willingness to silence dissenting voices. As the country gears up for the #FearlessINOctober protests, many have expressed concern that the government may use force to quell the demonstrations.