Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), has disclosed that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has placed him on a watchlist, preventing him from leaving the country.
Sowore made the revelation on Friday through a statement and video shared on his X.com account, where he decried the repeated harassment by the NIS.
“The Nigerian Immigration Service continues to subject me to unwarranted harassment and abuse, violating my rights repeatedly,” Sowore stated. “Today, again, they stopped me on my way out of Nigeria, claiming I am placed on their WATCHLIST!”
In the accompanying video, Sowore can be seen confronting an NIS officer, demanding to speak with a senior official for further clarification on the matter.
https://x.com/YeleSowore/status/1844755818375184751?t=mjbrcCBMMm7EbkpfAiwBuw&s=19
This incident comes just weeks after Sowore was detained at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos in September, where NIS officials confiscated his passport.
Sowore, who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, has been an outspoken critic of the Nigerian government. Over the years, he has faced numerous legal battles and detentions, further heightening tensions between him and the authorities.