Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, was Monday morning arrested by security agents at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as she tried to travel to London for a scheduled engagement.
The operatives confiscated her travelling documents as well.
She was however released after the government came under intense pressure as news of her arrest flooded the social media and travelled around the country, with many Nigerians lambasting the administration for increasingly clamping down on critics and members of the opposition.
Mrs. Ezekwesili had tweeted at 7:37 a.m. Monday that she was heading to London to appear on the BBC Hardtalk programme but was prevented from boarding her flight by security operatives.
Is this a democracy? I am being detained by the SSS at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport . The SSS has refused to give my passport to me,” she posted. “On my way to London this morning for my @BBCHARDtalk appearance billed for tomorrow and the SSS has detained me by withholding my passport.”
