Immigration Officials Again Delay Former presidential candidate at Airport
SaharaReporters reported 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 delayed by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) officers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Friday night.
Sowore, who was travelling on a United Airlines flight to the United States, faced a hold-up before being allowed to board.
Sowore, a vocal advocate for good governance in Nigeria, is widely known for leading movements such as #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernance, and the #FearlessOctober protests.
The activist has played a role in the fight for the release of many political detainees, including those arrested during protests against #EndBadGovernance.
Though the reason for the delay is unclear, this second incident follows a history of confrontations between Sowore and Nigerian authorities, as he continues his push for accountability and reforms in the country.
Earlier in October, SaharaReporters reported that 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 that the #RevolutionNow movement convener was stopped by immigration officers at the Lagos airport while travelling to Accra, Ghana earlier that day.
Sowore had told SaharaReporters that on his return to Nigeria on Sunday, he was stopped again at the airport and later allowed to go.
He said the reason was 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.
