The Department of State Services (DSS) has ordered the immediate arrest of Omoyele Sowore, upon his return to Nigeria.
This was contained in a leaked memo shared by Sowore on Thursday afternoon.
Sowore contested for the presidential seat in the 2019 and 2023 general elections.
The memo, signed by a DSS official, Adeola D. Ali, under the directive of the newly appointed Director General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi, cited Sowore’s involvement in the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests.
The protests, which called for widespread reforms and the end of bad governance, were met with backlash from security agencies.
The newly surfaced memo confirmed the directive and offered further insight into the level of surveillance being employed by the Nigerian secret police.
The memo, marked “DSE: 94/6203 X WATCHLIST ACTION,” outlined the plan for Sowore’s detainment and includes instructions for airport security.
It stated, “The DGSS has approved the upgrading of WLA ‘B’ (Report arrival and destination by telephone immediately) to WLA ‘F’ (Detain traveller and escort with baggage to NHSS) against Omoyele Sowore, an activist/founder of Sahara Reporters Inc., an online news agency.”
The DSS memo explicitly called for Sowore’s immediate detention and the confiscation of his baggage upon his arrival in Nigeria.
Reacting, the human rights activist wrote:
“Meanwhile, the lawless @OfficialDSSNG has upgraded my status and name on their “watchlist” for arrest upon arrival in Nigeria.
“It is imperative to recognize 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.”
Sowore also added that nothing can stop the fresh #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria scheduled for October 1, 2024.
