society
Holding You Against Your Will: Why Our Freedom Truly Matters.
Holding You Against Your Will: Why Our Freedom Truly Matters.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“How the denial of liberty crushes dignity, opportunity and progress and why reclaiming freedom is the first, last and only path to justice.”
Freedom is not a decorative privilege or a political gift bestowed by those in power. It is the core substance of human dignity, the foundation upon which every modern society is built, and the indispensable right that determines whether a human being is treated as a person or as a possession. To be held against your will — whether through physical detention, economic oppression, legislative injustice, or deliberate bureaucratic cruelty — is to be stripped of the very oxygen of humanity. This essay exposes the many faces of unfreedom, including one of the most shameful contemporary examples: the arrest and detention of foreign nationals for documentation the host country itself refuses to issue.
At the moral level, freedom is non-negotiable. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states unequivocally: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” This is not poetic language — it is a binding ethical standard. Any government or institution that undermines liberty undermines the global moral order and breaks faith with the universal principles that hold civilization together. When a person is confined, coerced, or punished unjustly, the offense goes beyond the individual; it is an assault on humanity’s shared dignity.
Freedom as the Engine of Human Development
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen provides one of the most powerful frameworks for understanding why freedom matters beyond emotion. In Development as Freedom, he argues that liberties — political, social, and economic — are the mechanisms through which societies progress. Freedom is not a luxury; it is the engine of development, innovation, and social harmony. When people can choose, speak, work, move, and organize without fear, possibilities expand. When these freedoms are constrained, societies stagnate, talent dies, and poverty deepens.
This is why the denial of documentation to foreign nationals — followed by their arrest for lacking the same documents — is one of the most grotesque modern forms of unfreedom. It is a deliberate entrapment, a manufactured criminality, and a violation of the fundamental human right to liberty.
When You Are Arrested for Papers the Host Country Refuses to Provide
Across various countries, especially in regions struggling with immigration policy, migrants and foreign nationals face an unconscionable paradox:
They are expected to possess valid documentation, yet the same governments often refuse, delay, or frustrate the issuance or renewal of these documents.
Then comes the nightmare:
They are arrested, detained, or threatened with deportation for not having the very papers the state intentionally withholds.
This is not law enforcement — this is systemic harassment.
This is not immigration management — this is state-induced vulnerability.
This is not justice — this is engineered captivity.
Respected migration scholars have described this phenomenon as “administrative violence” — the use of bureaucracy to punish, immobilize, and control individuals without the transparency or accountability that accompanies normal legal processes. Criminologist Dr. Didier Fassin calls such practices “the criminalization of mere existence.”
To arrest a person for a document they cannot obtain is to hold them against their will in the purest and most destructive sense.
The Psychological and Social Violence of Forced Detention
Detention — especially unjust detention — destroys more than physical freedom. It erodes dignity, shatters mental stability, and silences potential. Philosopher John Stuart Mill’s powerful declaration remains timeless: “Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.” When a state violates that sovereignty, the result is humiliation, broken trust, and civic alienation.
Foreign nationals who are detained for documentation issues experience more than temporary confinement:
They lose jobs and income.
Their children suffer educational and emotional trauma.
Their mental health deteriorates through fear, uncertainty, and stigma.
They become targets of xenophobia and public suspicion.
They are treated as criminals without having committed a crime.
The injustice is compounded by the knowledge that their only “offense” is being trapped by a system designed to fail them.
The Political and Economic Cost of Denying Freedom
Societies that weaponize documentation or manipulate immigration laws pay a heavy price:
They lose the contributions of skilled workers.
They drive innovation and entrepreneurship out of their borders.
They weaken social cohesion.
They damage international reputation and diplomatic credibility.
They create cycles of resentment, fear, and hostility.
Freedom House reports that societies restricting personal liberties or targeting minorities with arbitrary detention experience higher instability, weaker economies, and declining democratic ratings. Political repression does not produce safety — it produces fragility.
Freedom Is Never Voluntarily Given
In Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote:
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
This applies not only to citizens but also to migrants, asylum seekers, and foreign nationals living under unjust administrative structures. Freedom must be insisted upon — legally, socially, diplomatically, and morally.
Freedom Is Responsibility, Not Chaos
Nelson Mandela reminds us:
“To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
True freedom thrives in societies where:
Laws protect, not persecute.
Institutions serve, not suffocate.
Documentation systems enable, not entrap.
Immigration frameworks respect human dignity, not exploit vulnerability.
What Must Be Done
To prevent people from being held against their will — physically or administratively — societies must:
Guarantee transparent and fair documentation processes for migrants and foreign nationals.
End detention for documentation the state refuses to issue.
Establish independent oversight to prevent abuse.
Ensure that immigration enforcement aligns with international human rights standards.
Educate the public to dismantle the xenophobic narratives that justify these injustices.
Hold leaders and institutions accountable for policies that violate human dignity.
Summative Insight: Freedom Is Humanity’s Most Sacred Asset
Being held against your will (whether in a jail cell, a detention center, or inside the invisible cage of bureaucratic oppression) is the most brutal violation of human dignity. Freedom is not optional; it is the priceless heartbeat of existence. When states arrest people for documents they themselves refuse to provide, they are not ENFORCING LAW; they are MANUFACTURING INJUSTICE.
A society that cannot protect liberty will never achieve peace, progress, or prosperity.
And a people who do not defend their freedom will eventually lose it.
Freedom is the one inheritance we cannot afford to bargain away. It must be defended, protected, insisted upon, and expanded — for ourselves and for everyone who calls our society home.
society
Stop Means Stop”: Legal Experts Warn Ignoring ‘Stop’ During Intimate Acts Can Be Criminally Punishable
“Stop Means Stop”: Legal Experts Warn Ignoring ‘Stop’ During Intimate Acts Can Be Criminally Punishable
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“Grounded in international law and consent principles, legal authorities stress that continuing sexual activity after a partner withdraws consent may constitute sexual assault and lead to imprisonment.”
A growing body of legal interpretation and expert opinion reaffirm that consent in intimate encounters is not a one-off event but an ongoing requirement; withdrawn at any time by either participant. Legal practitioners and rights advocates are increasingly warning that if one partner clearly says “stop” during sexual activity and the other continues, this conduct can constitute a criminal offence with significant penalties, including imprisonment.
Consent must be “a voluntary agreement to engage in the sexual activity in question,” and crucially can be revoked at any stage. Once a partner expresses withdrawal of consent (by words like “stop” or by unmistakable conduct) the other party is legally obligated to cease all activity immediately. Failure to respect this is widely recognised in multiple legal jurisdictions as sexual assault or rape.
Professor Deborah Rhode, a prominent authority on legal ethics, has stated: “Respect for autonomy and bodily integrity lies at the core of consent law. Ignoring a partner’s withdrawal of consent undermines basic personal freedoms and is treated as a serious offence in criminal law.”
According to experts, this legal principle is not limited to strangers but applies equally to long-term partners and spouses. The Criminal Code in many countries explicitly rejects implied or blanket consent based on relationship status.
Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney has similarly emphasised that clear communication and mutual agreement are essential, and that “once consent is withdrawn, any continued sexual activity crosses the line into criminal conduct.”
This means that in places where consent law is well-established, ignoring an explicit “stop” can lead to charges of sexual assault, with courts interpreting such conduct as a violation of an individual’s autonomy and dignity.
The issue has gained media and legal attention in recent years across numerous jurisdictions (including Canada, parts of Europe, and reform discussions in U.S. states) as courts and legislatures clarify that sexual consent is continuous and revocable at any time. Although no globally consolidated database exists of individual cases tied specifically to a news report on this warning, reputable legal frameworks consistently reinforce that continuing after “stop” is unlawful.
The subject engages legal scholars, criminal law practitioners, human rights experts, and statutory bodies advocating sexual violence prevention. Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors may pursue charges when clear evidence shows that consent was withdrawn and ignored.
In practice, consent frameworks require that the person initiating or continuing sexual activity take reasonable steps to ensure ongoing affirmation of willingness. Silence, passive behaviour, or failure to stop when asked cannot substitute for ongoing consent.
In summary, the legal maxim is clear: verbal or unambiguous withdrawal of consent must be respected. Ignoring it shifts the encounter from consensual to criminal, potentially resulting in serious legal consequences including imprisonment.
Lagos Family Property Dispute Turns Violent After Death of Chief Omotayo Ojo
By Ifeoma Ikem
A festering family dispute over property has escalated into a series of violent attacks in Lagos, leaving residents of a contested apartment in fear for their safety.
Mrs. Omotayo-Ojo-Alolagbe (Nee Omotayo-Ojo) the third child and first daughter of the late Omotayo Ojo, has alleged repeated assaults and destruction of property by her siblings from her father’s other marriages.
According to her account, hostility against her began while her father was still alive, allegedly fueled by the affection and support he showed her. She claimed that tensions worsened after his death in 2019.
Mrs. Alolagbe stated that her late father had given her a particular apartment during his lifetime, assuring her she would not suffer hardship, especially after her husband left the marriage. She said the property became her primary source of livelihood and shelter.
However, she alleged that her siblings had sold off several other family properties and were determined to dispossess her of the apartment allocated to her by their father.
The dispute reportedly turned violent on Nov. 15, 2025, when unknown persons allegedly attacked the building. She said the incident prompted her to petition the Chief Judge of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police.
Despite the pending legal proceedings, she alleged that another attack occurred on Jan. 21, 2026. During that incident, parts of the building were vandalised, including the walkway and the main gate, which was reportedly removed.
A third attack was said to have taken place on Feb.18, 2026, during which the roof, gates, and sections of the walkway were allegedly dismantled. Residents were reportedly assaulted, and some were allegedly forced to part with money under duress.
Tenants in the apartment complex are said to be living in fear amid the repeated invasions, expressing concern over their safety and uncertainty about further violence.
Mrs. Alolagbe alleged that the attacks were led by a man identified as Mr. Alliu, popularly known as aka “Champion,” whom she described as a political thug. She claimed he arrived with a group of about 50 men, allegedly brandishing weapons and breaking bottles to intimidate residents.
She further alleged that the group boasted of connections with senior police officers, politicians in Lagos State, and even the presidency, claiming they were untouchable.
According to her, some arrests were initially made following the incidents, but the suspects were later released. She expressed concern that the alleged perpetrators continue to threaten her, making it difficult for her to move freely.
She also disclosed that during a meeting on Feb. 23, 2026, an Area Commander reportedly told her that little could be done because the matter was already before a court of law.
The development has raised concerns about the enforcement of law and order in civil disputes that degenerate into violence, particularly when court cases are pending.
As tensions persist, residents and observers are calling on relevant authorities to ensure the safety of lives and properties ,while allowing the courts to determine ownership and bring lasting resolution to the dispute.
Adron Homes Introduces Special Ramadan Offer with Discounts and Gift Rewards
As the holy month of Ramadan inspires reflection, sacrifice, and generosity, Adron Homes and Properties Limited has unveiled its special Ramadan Promo, encouraging families, investors, and aspiring homeowners to move beyond seasonal gestures and embrace property ownership as a lasting investment in their future.
The company stated that the Ramadan campaign, running from January 20th to April 6th, 2026, is designed to help Nigerians build long-term value and stability through accessible real estate opportunities. The initiative offers generous discounts, flexible payment structures, and meaningful Ramadan-themed gifts across its estates and housing projects nationwide.
Under the promo structure, clients enjoy a 30% discount on land purchases alongside a convenient 36-month flexible payment plan, making ownership more affordable and stress-free.
In the spirit of the season, the company has also attached thoughtful rewards to qualifying payments. Clients who pay ₦200,000 receive a Provision Hamper to support their household during the fasting period, while those who pay ₦400,000 receive an Automated Prayer Mat to enhance their spiritual experience throughout Ramadan.
According to the company, the Ramadan Promo reflects its commitment to aligning lifestyle, faith, and financial growth, enabling Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to secure appreciating assets while observing a season centered on discipline and forward planning.
Reiterating its dedication to secure land titles, prime locations, and affordable pricing, Adron Homes urged prospective buyers to take advantage of the limited-time Ramadan campaign to build a future grounded in stability, prosperity, and generational wealth.
This promo covers estates located in Lagos, Shimawa, Sagamu, Atan–Ota, Papalanto, Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osun, Ekiti, Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger states.
As Ramadan calls for purposeful living and wise decisions, Adron Homes is redefining the season, transforming reflection into investment and faith into a lasting legacy.
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