Human rights activist and the convener of the RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has recalled the state-sanctioned repression he faced while attending the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
In his recollection, Sowore emphasized the significant role that solidarity played in resisting the repressive measures and protecting activists like himself. He used his personal experiences to advocate for the importance of standing together in the face of oppression.
Taking to his Facebook page, Sowore wrote, “In building solid social movements for liberation, specific attributes are crucial to sustaining bravery in the movement; again, in 1993, my abduction by security agents was planned between the @OfficialDSSNG, @PoliceNG, and the @UnilagNigeria authorities to ensure I was prevented from writing my first semester exams, exams were to commence the next day or two, had they succeeded and had the students, 27,000 strong ever conscious students abandoned me in the hands of the Nigerian state.”
Continuing his reflected, he added “The following year in 1994, these forces combined together again in a deadlier fashion, it took share bravery on the part of our students to rescue me, it was also on the even of our final year 2nd semester exams.”
Sowore concluded his reflections by urging Nigerians to mobilize for their collective good and to remember that the strength of any resistance movement lies in its unity and protection of its leaders.
“I wouldn’t have legitimately graduated from UNILAG to date. However, while I was languishing incommunicado at the Inter-Center high-security detention centre inside Ikoyi cemetery, the DSS were alarmed at the fidelity of our colleagues in ensuring my safety and well-being. As we urge the Nigerian people to mobilise for their greater good, we must ensure none of the leaders of the movement is left behind in the hands of their traducers at any time. RevolutionNow”
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