Rita Odafe
Nigerian activist Omoyele Sowore recently shared his experience after being briefly detained at Murtala Mohammed International Airport upon his return to Nigeria.
His detainment occurred upon his arrival on a Sunday, where Sowore revealed that he has been monitored by the Nigerian government since his university days in 1992.
Following his release, he discovered that one of his bags was missing. In an interview with News Central at the airport, Sowore remarked, “I’m back home now. When I left earlier this year, I promised to return to Nigeria, despite the government’s efforts to impede me. Being declared wanted is a source of pride for me.”
He continued, “I’ve officially learned that I’ve been placed on the highest watchlist level. There are different categories of surveillance; my status means that I should be monitored closely at all times, including formal detention upon my arrival.”
Sowore explained the details of his experience, stating that immigration officials took his passport for inspection. Initially, he was told there were issues that required verification from Abuja. After a wait of about 30 minutes, he was taken to a detention office.
After a brief period, he received confirmation that he could leave. However, upon searching for his luggage, he found that one bag was unaccounted for. He expressed concern, saying he hoped it wasn’t taken by the DSS, and reported the missing baggage to the airline, which indicated that it had arrived. Sowore remained uneasy about the situation, stating, “I just hope nothing untoward happened to my bag.”
