Sowore, RevolutionNow: How DSS arrested SaharaReporters founder (Video)

Sowore has been accused by the authorities of attempting to overthrow Buhari's government.

A Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage has emerged capturing the arrest of a former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) two days ago.

Sowore had made waves over the past two weeks over his calls for nationwide protests against the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

The Sahara Reporters founder accused the current government of badly managing the affairs of the country and called on Nigerians to reject the wickedness of the establishment.

After the DSS picked him up on Saturday, August 3, 2019, the agency accused him of threatening the harmony of the nation by plotting to overthrow a democratically-elected government.

Sahara Reporters has now released an 18-minute long video showing how Sowore was arrested by the DSS.

In the video, DSS operatives entered Sowore's building complex around 1:05 am on Saturday and commenced on a search that took almost 20 minutes.

While his initial contact with the operatives wasn't caught on tape, Sowore was apprehended after a slight altercation in the gym.

When he eventually showed up on camera, the slightly resistant Sowore was firmly held by one DSS operative while another pushed him to usher him out of the building.

He was then driven out in a black vehicle as his associate struggled with the operatives.

Controversy over RevolutionNow movement

The authorities have slammed the RevolutionNow movement as a misguided attempt to overthrow the Buhari-led government.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had in a Sunday statement described the planned protest as a call that amounts to "treasonable felony and acts of terrorism".

He warned the organisers, sponsors, allies, supporters, associates and sympathisers of the protest to desist from embarking on the planned protests.

Despite his warning, protesters showed up for a demonstration at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Monday, August 5 chanting revolution songs.

A RevolutionNow protester challenges a police officer during a demonstration in Surulere, Lagos on Monday, August 5, 2019 [Sahara Reporters] Pulse Nigeria

They were met by dozens of police officers blocking off the entrance of the stadium in a bid to shut down the protest. Soldiers of the Nigerian Army were also stationed at the entrance of the stadium to deter protesters.

The peaceful protesters, who also demanded Sowore's release, were dispersed with tear gas.

Some of the protesters were injured in the chaos that ensued, while some were also arrested by police officers.

While speaking to the press after the dispersal, Tijani Fatai, an assistant commissioner of police, said the gathering was unlawful.

"Nobody has consulted or contacted the Police seeking permission to protest, peaceful or non-peaceful.

"So, it's an unlawful assembly, and an unlawful assembly has to be dislodged," he said.