Security agents believed to be personnel of the State Security Service (SSS) have arrested Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of the news website, SaharaReporters.
In a statement by an associate of Mr Sowore said the publisher cum politician was taken into custody early Saturday morning.
The statement said, “Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested pro-democracy activist and the convener of #RevolutionNow Protests, Omoyele Sowore.
“It was gathered that Sowore was picked up at his apartment in the early hours of Saturday.
“Sowore posted a distress tweet at exactly 1:25 am with an eyewitness confirming that his phone was forcefully taken from him.
The tweet read, ” DSS invades Sowore’s”.
“He also tweeted ” Ja p”, confirming his phone must have been seized while trying to raise the alarm about his arrest.
“His arrest and detention are not unconnected to #RevolutionNow, a series of planned protests against bad governance in Nigeria scheduled for August 5, 2019.
The publisher’s lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, later posted on Facebook, “Mr Omoyele Sowore is currently in the custody of the SSS. His phones have been confiscated. This is a panic response from a decayed regime that is so sacred of its own shadow.
“Buhari’s despotism is now in full force. Nigerians are now preoccupied with the shenanigans of a morally bankrupt, economically backward and politically inept administration.
“The SSS which is supposed to be actively involved in curtailing insecurity across Nigeria has been turned into a tool of intimidation for a corrupt, clueless and incompetent government.
“Let it be known that this irresponsible and highly reckless action will not deter conscientious and enlightened Nigerians from fighting for a better country.
“Let it be known that this irresponsible and highly reckless action will not deter conscientious and enlightened Nigerians from fighting for a better country.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned the arrest of presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, by men of the Department of State Services, DSS.
SERAP in a statement on its official Twitter page said, called for Sowore’s ‘immediate and unconditional release.’
The terse statement reads, “SERAP strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest of opposition leader and activist @YeleSowore by SSS.
“The Nigerian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release him. Sowore’s unconditional release will be a first step to stop Nigeria’s precipitous human rights slide.”
Nigerians on social media, called for Sowore’s release, while others commended Buhari for arresting him.
Senator Shehu Sani who represented the Kaduna central in the last 8th National Assembly wrote on his Facebook page: "The ruling Political class are allergic to the freedoms they once believed in;Are fearful of the rights they once stood for;Are reneging on the ideas and principles of justice they once fought for and are subscribing to the autocracy they once despised and denounced."
on Twitter @Omojuwa wrote, “Nothing could be more daft! Of all the actions to take against a constitutionally and legally backed protest, the last should be an arrest of the convener.If calling for a revolution is treasonable, at least 70% of Nigerians should be in jail. They have called for it at one point or the other, including those in government now when they were out ofgovernment.”
@peter_nuhu, “#FreeSowore Mr president do you still remember this protest pictures, who and who dey front of this picture, Mr buhari is you and you and you and you, but today you are sending DSS to arrest someone that is doing sametin that you did some years ago. ”
@BMichael_Nelson, “Hang them, poison them, shoot them, jail them, they RISE AGAIN. As long as there is a future to fight for, we will always SPEAK UP. #FreeSowore.”
@Godswilluv, “Have you all seen what @MaziNnamdiKanu & IPOB have been saying about Nigeria and its tyranny govt.Nigerians must be willing & ready to die if indeed we’re serious about REVOLUTION.Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressed, it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
@Dabiridola, “Abiola died for his cause. I am waiting for the revolutionists, Sowore, Kanu to die first for their causes before we can take them serious. They have citizenship of other countries yet they want to cause chaos in Nigeria and then flee. Nigerians are wiser now.”
@Emmanueludechu6, “Nigerians are contented with the way things are in this Nation, that whoever says enough is enough, the carnage and the inhuman plight of Nigerians should not continue, you become their enemy, don’t fight for Nigerians, because if you do, they will hate you, so many zombies.”
@gagabashua, “Even Kanu that had a cult followership eventually japa. Talk less of mr sowore that cannot win a local government Chiarmanship election. Sowore lost an election and decided to revolt against the Nation who rejected him at the polls.better call him to order.”
@Iamtrainstation, “ Sowore went abroad to do meeting, planning to cause revolution. If we destroy Nigeria, who will rebuild for us? Meanwhile sowore and his family has US visa, if sowore and his team can shred their passport and visa page to pieces that’s when I can take them serious. For now No.”
@Nwaduc1, “Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people–they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated: they oppress.”
@treasureglobal1, “@DSS Inciting Nigerian’s to go to war is the highest crime in the land called Treason, Sedition & an to Terrorism.If the DSS do the needful to investigates & prosecute, I think this man (Sowore) will rot in jail for ever.”
@Sheyireator, “Sowore arrested for wanting a revolution, killer herdsmen walking free 4 killing Innocent people, Boko Haram members freed for claiming repentant.Nothing can stop an idea dat has come to stay! Revolution we seek, Revolution we will get.”
@steveajose, “Security agencies that can’t protect lives and properties during the day but can easily creep into someone’s house in the middle of the night to stage a force arrest. #FreeSowore.”
@ayemojubar, “Does Buhari think Sowore is not aware the arrest would happen. If not he would have slept in a more secure place. This is a trap and I’m happy Buhari fell into it cluelessly. Buhari finally used his cluelessness to activate #RevolutionNow protest.”
With Additional Reporting From Premium Times and Daily Post
@Godswilluv, “Have you all seen what @MaziNnamdiKanu & IPOB have been saying about Nigeria and its tyranny govt.Nigerians must be willing & ready to die if indeed we’re serious about REVOLUTION.Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressed, it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
@Dabiridola, “Abiola died for his cause. I am waiting for the revolutionists, Sowore, Kanu to die first for their causes before we can take them serious. They have citizenship of other countries yet they want to cause chaos in Nigeria and then flee. Nigerians are wiser now.”
@Emmanueludechu6, “Nigerians are contented with the way things are in this Nation, that whoever says enough is enough, the carnage and the inhuman plight of Nigerians should not continue, you become their enemy, don’t fight for Nigerians, because if you do, they will hate you, so many zombies.”
@gagabashua, “Even Kanu that had a cult followership eventually japa. Talk less of mr sowore that cannot win a local government Chiarmanship election. Sowore lost an election and decided to revolt against the Nation who rejected him at the polls.better call him to order.”
@Iamtrainstation, “ Sowore went abroad to do meeting, planning to cause revolution. If we destroy Nigeria, who will rebuild for us? Meanwhile sowore and his family has US visa, if sowore and his team can shred their passport and visa page to pieces that’s when I can take them serious. For now No.”
@Nwaduc1, “Leaders who do not act dialogically, but insist on imposing their decisions, do not organize the people–they manipulate them. They do not liberate, nor are they liberated: they oppress.”
@treasureglobal1, “@DSS Inciting Nigerian’s to go to war is the highest crime in the land called Treason, Sedition & an to Terrorism.If the DSS do the needful to investigates & prosecute, I think this man (Sowore) will rot in jail for ever.”
@Sheyireator, “Sowore arrested for wanting a revolution, killer herdsmen walking free 4 killing Innocent people, Boko Haram members freed for claiming repentant.Nothing can stop an idea dat has come to stay! Revolution we seek, Revolution we will get.”
@steveajose, “Security agencies that can’t protect lives and properties during the day but can easily creep into someone’s house in the middle of the night to stage a force arrest. #FreeSowore.”
@ayemojubar, “Does Buhari think Sowore is not aware the arrest would happen. If not he would have slept in a more secure place. This is a trap and I’m happy Buhari fell into it cluelessly. Buhari finally used his cluelessness to activate #RevolutionNow protest.”
With Additional Reporting From Premium Times and Daily Post
No comments