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Encounter with DSS @ MM Intl Airport
It was Friday, 15th day of April 2016. I arrived at the airport for a scheduled flight back to the U.S., I checked in my luggage and went through immigration to the boarding area.
Immediately as I walked away from the immigration scanning area two plain clothed men walked to me; they brought out a photograph of me printed, I guessed, printed from my blog. They asked, "are you Madukar Orji? I said yes.
They identified themselves as State Security officers. I expected this on my arrival, not on departure. They brought out about three articles written by me from my blog. One of then, with chaotic intimidating voice said, “it is Nigerians like you abroad that write rubbish about the country?
Calmly I replied, “I don’t know what many write, but I do not write rubbish, I write nothing but truth. I went further to exemplified my points in relation to the articles they had. They stood still for seconds without response.
At this point they asked for my passport and boarding pass. They said to me, “it seems your journey has come to an end here.” I said nothing, but gently smiled. In an unintended chorus both men said, “so you are an American citizen? Where is your Nigerian passport?” I said I am an American that I don’t have Nigerian
passport.
One of them left with the passport. After about 30 minutes he came back and handed me my passport without a word, and I collected it back from him without a word too. He then said, "you can go." To cool off the harrassment I found myself in MM Heineken Bar.
Throughout the encounter neither was I shaken nor surprised. I had a mindset it might come, hence I traveled on a Nigerian visa - it was my Amazing Grace. My experience is portrayal of how low the political corrupt cabal in Nigeria can descent to intimidate free citizens, deprived them free speech. If a little guy like me could be trailed online what about the big guys that live by the pen.
There is still more gist to write about my trip.