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.

BON 2025: Obasa Endows Best Indigenous Movie

…As Addme, Indomie, Abundish Join Award Sponsors

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has graciously endowed the coveted Best Indigenous Movie (Yoruba) category at the 2025 Best of Nollywood Awards holding this Sunday, December 14, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts (formerly known as the National Arts Theatre), Iganmu, Lagos.

The founder of BON Awards, Seun Oloketuyi, says, “Rt. Hon. Obasa’s endowment of the award underscores his passion and promotion of the Yoruba Language. Indeed, he has always been at the forefront of the preservation of our rich cultural narratives through film, and his endowment of the Best Indigenous Movie award emphasises this in no small measure.”

Further bolstering the prestigious awards ceremony, now in its 17th year, are corporate sponsors like Addme, which has endowed the Best Actress of the Year category, while Indomie shows its support for emerging talent through the Best Child Actor award.

Abundish, an agricultural produce wholesaler, highlights the creative technical aspects of filmmaking by endowing the Best Use of Food in a Movie category.

Oloketuyi noted that these endorsements provide crucial resources and prestige to the categories, ensuring the continued celebration of authentic storytelling and technical innovation within the industry.

Further, he said, “This year’s awards are not only a recognition of Nollywood’s best creative and technical talents but also a showcase of significant corporate and private support for the industry. These endowments underscore the value placed on acting prowess and the creative technical elements that bring our stories to life while underlining a strategic partnership between the film industry and various high-profile entities and personalities.”

The BON Awards 2025 will be hosted by the dynamic duo of Bukunmi ‘KieKie’ Adeaga-Ilori and Adams Ibrahim Adebola, popularly known as VJ Adams, with the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, serving as the official Host Governor. The ceremony promises to be a spectacular celebration of cinematic excellence.

Bandits Roam Free While Citizens Face Trial: A Scathing Rebuke of Nigerian Governance and Judicial Hypocrisy.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | For SaharaWeeklyNG.com

“How the Persecution of Omoyele Sowore Exposes the Failure of the State to Protect Its People and Safeguard Freedoms.”

Nigeria today stands at a grim crossroads. On one path lies STATE REPRESSION where DISSIDENTS, JOURNALISTS and CRITICS are hauled before courts on dubious charges. On the other lies RAMPANT BANDITRY, ABDUCTIONS and VIOLENCE, terrorizing thousands of innocent citizens with apparent impunity. The recent pronouncements by the lawyer of human-rights activist Omoyele Sowore (that “bandits roam free while citizens face trial”) are not mere rhetoric. They are a sobering indictment of a government that seems more intent on silencing dissent than protecting lives.

This essay delves into the details of this accusation, unpacks the broader political and security context and argues forcefully why this moment demands not just outrage, but a national reckoning.

The Sowore Case: A Microcosm of State Misplaced Priorities. On 3 December 2025, Sowore’s lead counsel, Abubakar Marshal, delivered a blistering critique of the government’s latest prosecution of his client. According to Marshal, the government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu has embarked on a deliberate campaign to “shrink Nigeria’s civic space” by targeting ordinary citizens who demand accountability.

Marshal argued that while armed bandits (those who ABDUCT, KILL, RAPE, LOOT and DESTABILIZE WHOLE COMMUNITIES) roam freely, innocent Nigerians who only demand good governance are arrested, tried and harassed.

Consider the facts:

Sowore was arraigned on five-count charges by the Department of State Services (DSS), based on his social-media posts criticizing President Tinubu.

His lawyer challenged the competence of the suit and questioned the jurisdiction of the court.

Despite the protestations and even though the prosecution had only just received the defence’s objection, the court proceeded to grant bail on self-recognition.

The court noted that there was no evidence that Sowore posed a flight risk, that his passport had been deposited with the court registry and that he had attended previous hearings and yet he was still being prosecuted for exercising his right to expression.

Marshal’s conclusion was stark and unambiguous: a government that “NEGOTIATES WITH BANDITS AND PAYS RANSOM TO CRIMINALS” yet goes after citizens who only ask for accountability has perverted justice.

He called on Nigerians to “RISE and RESIST” such suppression, insisting that “until we are all free, we are not free.”

In short: the treatment of Sowore is not an isolated case, it is emblematic of a much deeper malaise, one that strikes at the heart of constitutional freedoms, the rule of law and state legitimacy.

The Reality of Banditry: Why the Complaint Is Not Hyperbole. To understand why the “BANDITS ROAM FREE” charge resonates (even beyond political circles) one must confront the stark truth about Nigeria’s security collapse. The state’s failure to stem banditry is well documented. A 2023 report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) laid bare how violent groups in the northwest and other regions carried out widespread killings, kidnappings for ransom, rape, looting, mass displacement and even in areas near the seat of government.

Academic research confirms what many analysts and victims already know: banditry in Nigeria has evolved into a form of modern slavery and one in which vulnerable populations are terrorized, traumatized, exploited and stripped of basic human dignity.

More than that, analysts have tied this security collapse to deeper failures of governance. A recent study published by the International Institute of Academic Research and Development shows how institutional breakdowns, weak law enforcement, chronic corruption, youth unemployment, poverty, neglect of rural infrastructure and social services have all combined to create fertile ground for bandits to thrive.

In the words of one security analyst recently quoted by a major African media outlet: Nigeria’s insecurity is “rooted in governance failure.”

Thus, when Sowore’s lawyer condemns the government for focusing on silencing critics instead of combating criminal terror, he is not exaggerating. He is calling attention to a tragic inversion of priorities: JUSTICE for DISSENTERS, IMPUNITY for KILLERS.

Governance Failure: The Bigger Crime. What we see today is not merely a spike in crime; it is the gradual unraveling of social contract and the implicit agreement between government and governed that promises safety, justice and dignity. Political scientists often define “good governance” as the ability of a government to uphold the rule of law, ensure transparency, deliver public goods (security, infrastructure, social services) and respect civil liberties.

When these pillars crumble, governance failure follows and the consequences are catastrophic. Banditry, insurgency, fear, social dislocation these become the norm rather than the exception.

Scholars studying Nigeria’s bandit crisis increasingly argue that military strikes alone cannot resolve the problem. These strategies (which often target hideouts deep in forests) do little to deal with root causes: poverty, despair, exclusion, neglect.

Without systemic reform (strengthening local governance, boosting rural development, creating economic opportunities, restoring trust between communities and security agencies) the cycle of violence and impunity will only deepen.

Moreover, when the same state that fails to protect its citizens turns around to suppress dissent, it forfeits moral and legal legitimacy. That is precisely what has happened in the Sowore case: a government that cannot guarantee safety still seeks to wield the courts like weapons.

The Cost — to Democracy, to Citizens, to Nigeria’s Soul. The suppression of dissent is not simply a violation of individual rights; it corrodes democracy itself. As veteran Nigerian human-rights lawyer and activist Richard Akinnola once argued, a free press, a robust civil society and respect for speech and assembly are not optional extras but they are indispensable to a functioning democracy.

When governments imprison critics instead of bandits, they send a chilling message to every journalist, activist or ordinary citizen: your voice is a liability.

The consequences are not hypothetical. They are real: in countless communities, people live in fear and are afraid to demand accountability, report abuses, or protest injustice. Meanwhile, bandits kill, rape, abduct, extort but with impunity. That is the opposite of security: it is a reign of terror.

In a broader moral sense, such selective justice erodes the very foundations of citizenship. A state that punishes the powerless and legitimizes the powerful becomes no longer a protector, but a predator.

What Must Be Done: A Call to Action. The moment demands more than outrage. It demands clarity of purpose and collective resolve.

Reprioritise Security — The government must shift focus: from criminalising dissent to dismantling criminal networks. It must strengthen local policing, intelligence gathering, community-based defence and socio-economic support for vulnerable regions. Scholars warn that banditry cannot be tackled only by guns; root causes must be addressed.

Protect Civic Space — The courts should not be used as tools of repression. The charges against dissenters like Sowore must be carefully reviewed; merit and constitutional rights must guide judicial actions, not political expedience.

Institutional Reform — Governance deficits (corruption, neglect of rural infrastructure, unequal development, lack of accountability) must be confronted. Good governance demands transparency, fairness, responsiveness and respect for human dignity.

Empower Communities — Local leaders, civil-society organisations, ordinary citizens must be involved in restoring security and governance. Community policing, rural development, and empowerment of youth are part of the solution — not just militarisation.

Defend Democracy — Citizens must rise to resist any attempt to silence dissent, even more so when the state fails to secure basic rights. As Sowore’s lawyer said: “until we are all free, we are not free.”

Final Take – No More Excuses, No More Silence.
The Nigerian state today faces two concurrent crises: the collapse of security, and the erosion of civil liberties. Though these crises are not separate; they are intimately linked. A state that forfeits its responsibility to protect its citizens while punishing those who call for accountability is a state that has lost its soul.

The words of Abubakar Marshal are not hyperbole, they are a sober diagnosis: “bandits roam free while citizens face trial.” The tragedy is not only in the violence inflicted by criminals, though that devastation is real, daily and heartbreaking. The greater tragedy is in the state’s betrayal of its core mandate: to secure lives, uphold justice and preserve freedom.

If Nigeria is to heal, rebuild and redeem itself, it must start by re-committing to the dignity of every citizen and by defending freedom, delivering security and honoring the rule of law. Anything less is not governance; it is TYRANNY hidden behind the ROBES of LEGITIMACY.