By Damilare Adeleye
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore, has been released minutes after his arrest.
The former presidential flag-bearer was arrested on Sunday morning at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Sowore confirmed the development through his social media platform.
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.”
However, in a post via his official X handle, Sowore disclosed that he had been released by the Nigerian Immigration Service and his international passport had been released to him after it was confiscated.
He wrote: “I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport released back to me.”
On Thursday, 12 September 2024, a leaked DSS memo ordered the arrest of Sowore upon his arrival in Nigeria.