Immigration Officers Again Harass former presidential candidate At Lagos Airport
……Upon Return From Ghana Over Watchlist Status
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that the #RevolutionNow movement convener was stopped by immigration officers at the Lagos airport while travelling to Accra, Ghana earlier that day.
Nigerian human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore was again stopped and detained by Nigerian immigration officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos upon his return to the country from Accra, Ghana.
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that the #RevolutionNow movement convener was stopped by immigration officers at the Lagos airport while travelling to Accra, Ghana earlier that day.
Sowore told SaharaReporters that on his return to Nigerian on Sunday, he was stopped again at the airport and later allowed to go.
He said the reason was again attributed to his name being listed on a watchlist.
“They were panicky; they were running around, calling their bosses,” he said after he was allowed to go.
Sowore, who has been an outspoken critic of bad governance in Nigeria, on Friday, disclosed on his X account how he was also harassed while leaving Nigeria for Ghana.
“The Nigerian Immigration Service @nigimmigration continues to subject me to unwarranted harassment and abuse,” he disclosed in the post.
“Violating my rights repeatedly. Today, again, they stopped me on my way out of Nigeria, claiming I am placed on their WATCHLIST! #RevolutionNow.”
According to Sowore, he was delayed by immigration officials at the Lagos airport, though he was eventually allowed to continue his journey.
He later disclosed to SaharaReporters that he was stopped at the airport while on his way to Accra, Ghana “but later released to travel”.
The activist described the harassment as another attempt by the Nigerian government to intimidate him due to his activism.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and publisher of SaharaReporters, has been repeatedly targeted by government authorities for his role in organizing protests and speaking out against corruption and injustice in the country.
Sowore has faced a series of incidents where he was harassed, jailed, and physical assault by security agencies.
However, he continues to champion the cause for human rights and better governance in Nigeria.
Earlier in September, SaharaReporters reported how the immigration service briefly detained the #RevolutionNow movement convener at the Lagos airport following his arrival from the United States of America and seized his passport.
However, he was later allowed to go and his passport was returned to him.
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, SaharaReporters exclusively reported that a Department of State Services’ memo ordering the arrest of the convener of Sowore upon his arrival in Nigeria had leaked.
Following the report, Sowore lambasted the DSS for issuing a directive for his arrest on his arrival in Nigeria, disclosing that his intention was to return to the country ‘very soon’.
In a post on his X account, 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.
“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 added
Earlier in September, SaharaReporters reported that Nigeria’s secret police, DSS, had instructed airport security and immigration authorities to intercept and detain Sowore upon his arrival in Nigeria.
It was learnt that the directive, issued by the newly appointed DSS Director General, Adeola Ajayi, stemmed from Sowore’s role in the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests.
