Social activist and politician Omoyele Sowore was greeted by a large group of supporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos following his release from detention by officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Sowore, who had flown into Nigeria from the United States, was detained on Sunday, September 15, 2024, over claims that he was on the watchlist of the Department of State Service (DSS) due to his involvement in the recent #EndBandGovernance protest.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 elections, revealed on his social media account that his international passport had been confiscated upon arrival, and he was informed of his detention orders. He linked the detention to a broader clampdown on dissent by the government.
As news of his detention spread, supporters gathered at the airport to demand his immediate and unconditional release. After about an hour, Sowore announced that he had been released, and his passport returned.
Upon exiting the NIS facility, Sowore was met by an ecstatic crowd of supporters who sang and chanted his name, taking photos and selfies with the activist.