Olawoye, who recently gained attention on social media for consistently drawing attention to the poor state of some roads in Ogun State, was freed on Tuesday night after spending more than 24 hours in DSS custody.

A family source confirmed the development on Tuesday night, stating that the pastor and the two men were released after over a day in detention.

The arrest had sparked concern among relatives and social media users, many of whom linked the action to Olawoye’s outspoken comments on the condition of road infrastructure in the state.

Earlier, Olawoye’s wife, Shola, said her husband received a call from the DSS on Sunday evening, inviting him to visit the agency’s Ogun State office on Monday. She said the officials described the invitation as a routine and friendly interaction.

According to her, Olawoye arrived at the office around 1:30 p.m. on Monday but became unreachable afterwards, as his phone and those of his companions were confiscated.

She added that two associates—Benjamin Olaleye and Joshua—who accompanied him were also detained.

Shola expressed distress over the situation, saying she was left without information about her husband’s welfare for hours and was repeatedly asked to return home.

She suggested that the detention was connected to Olawoye’s continued calls on the government to address deteriorating road conditions across the state.

“This is someone advocating for grassroots governance. He is not insulting the governor or inciting trouble; he is simply urging the government to fulfil its campaign promises,” she said.

Another family member revealed that Olawoye had previously been invited by the DSS on two occasions over his criticism of road infrastructure, during which officials allegedly questioned him about who was sponsoring his activities.

The detention also attracted condemnation from Amnesty International Nigeria, which described the action as unlawful and a violation of fundamental rights.

In a statement on Tuesday, the organisation said that intimidating a peaceful advocate for good governance was unacceptable, stressing that criticising the government does not amount to a crime.

Following sustained public pressure and condemnation, the DSS released Olawoye and his two associates on Tuesday night, bringing relief to his family and supporters.