DSS Reportedly Arrests Omoyele Sowore Publisher Of SaharaReporters

A former presidential candidate in the 2019 elections, Mr Omoyele Sowore, has been arrested by security agents in Lagos.

He was reportedly arrested by men believed to be operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

However, the security outfit has yet to confirm the arrest.

Sowore, an activist and publisher of online news platform SaharaReporters, was said to have been picked up at his apartment in the early hours of Saturday.

He made his arrest known via his verified Twitter handle at about 1:25 am.

Ja p

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 3, 2019

DSS invades Sowore’s

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) August 3, 2019

minute after, the former presidential candidate tweeted “Ja p” which, according to his news platform, confirms his phone must have been seized while trying to raise the alarm about his arrest.

The news website added that its publisher’s arrest was not unconnected to #RevolutionNow, a series of planned protests against bad governance in the country scheduled for August 5, 2019.

Reactions From Nigerians

Freedom of speech is not only constitutionally guaranteed, it is the substructure of our democracy. These kidnappings in the guise of arrests stands condemned. -AA

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 3, 2019

Wow!

We reject tyrannical actions in our Democracy.

I join the voices of all well-meaning Nigerians to ask @AsoRock @NGRPresident @MBuhari to:#FreeSoworeNow!#FreeSoworeNow!!#FreeSoworeNow!!!#FreeSoworeNow!!!!#DefendCitizenSoworesRight to Speech&Protest
#RevolutionNow

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) August 3, 2019

If news report of DSS picking up @YeleSowore is confirmed then those behind his arrest sure did not learn from the past, he just had you were he wants you to be. Now we won't know if #RevolutionNow would have really taken over Nigerian government on Monday. It's now #FreeSowore

— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) August 3, 2019

Nigeria is going into a #revolutionnow mode. Pls President @MBuhari #FreeSowore. Let us hear the voices of the oppressed. We are A DEMOCRACY🇳🇬💚 @YeleSowore has fought for this nation enough @AmnestyNigeria @hrw @UNHumanRights @SaharaReporters pic.twitter.com/qWqeyrQ4iY

— Dr Kemi Olunloyo (@HNNAfrica) August 3, 2019

The government are already having guilty conscience, they know they have failed and has been failing.
No to Sowore arrest #RevolutionNow #FreeSowore pic.twitter.com/0g19ml1EGX

— Jetli Of Content Creation (Aanu) (@ContagiousAnu) August 3, 2019

Someone wants to stage a peaceful protest on monday and because he refuses to back out like 2face. They came to his
house in the middle of the night (1:25am) to arrest him.

Say Baba Stans hafa?#FreeSoworeNow#FreeSowore pic.twitter.com/87GUXxGUy7

— 有 Alhaji Orezi (@CreativeMena) August 3, 2019

Exactly 22 years today, we lost Nigeria's greatest revolutionist & earlier today again another revolutionist was arrested by PMB led administration. #FreeSowore#RevolutionNow#RestOnFela#Papa70 @Osekita @segalink @SaharaReporters @RealSeunKuti @AmnestyNigeria @adeyanjudeji pic.twitter.com/ujV5rgJeFx

— Man Bukky (@manbukky) August 3, 2019

This government has a way of making people heroes. Happened with Nnamdi Kanu, happened with El Zakzaky, now happening with Sowore. This is Buhari protesting ahead of 2015. Any democratic government that frequently clamps down on criticism is a dictatorship. #FreeSowore pic.twitter.com/J8jMwwv5wF

— Ifeabunike Chukwudi (@Ifeabunike) August 3, 2019