Prominent human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has lambasted Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS), for issuing a directive for his arrest on his arrival in Nigeria.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), said it is unfortunate that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated inability to track and arrest terrorists, bandits and kidnappers terrorising the country but has been effective in hunting down those calling for good governance and standing against hunger and hardship inflicted on Nigerians.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that it had exclusively obtained a DSS’s memo signed by Adeola D. Ali for NISEC NHSS, ordering Sowore’s arrest immediately he lands in Nigeria.
The activist is currently in the US with his family.
Earlier in September, SaharaReporters reported that the 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.
The memo obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday reads, “DSE: 94/6203 X WATCHLIST ACTION X EYE AM DIRECTED TO INFO Y OURS THAT X THE DGSS HAS APPROVED THE UPGRADING OF WLA.
“’B’ (REPORT ARRIVAL AND DESTINATION BY TELEPHONE IMMEDIATE LY) TO WLA ‘F’ (DETAIN TRAVELER AND ESCORT WITH BAGGAGE TO NHSS) X VIDE DSE: 9A/6201 X AGAINST OMOYELE SOWORE X AN AC TIVIST/FOUNDER OF SAHARA REPORTERS INC. X AN ONLINE NEWS AGENCY X THIS IS FOR YOUR STRICT COMPLIANCE X PLEASE X.”
But Sowore, who mocked the DSS for upgrading his status on its watchlist, knocked the Nigerian government over the failure by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who has been declared wanted for money laundering for months, and yet not arrested.
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 said.
According to him, “Nothing Can Stop An Idea Whose Time Has Come!”
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