Army reacts to widespread outcry following arrest of investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo
Fisayo Soyombo
Abdullateef Fowewe
The headquarters, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has said that investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, was arrested by troops during a raid on an illegal bunkering site.
Soyombo, a renowned investigative journalist, has been held for three days, amid outcry from different angles.
In a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, November 29, FIJ condemned the detention, describing it as an assault on press freedom.
“Journalism is not a crime! #FreeFisayoNow,” the organisation stated, while calling for Soyombo’s immediate release and urging the military to preserve critical evidence confiscated from him.
“All his devices have been seized. We call on the Nigerian Army to protect this evidence and ensure the truth is not suppressed,” FIJ emphasised.
Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, addressed allegations circulating on social media that the Nigerian Army detained an investigative journalist in Port Harcourt.
Lt. Col. Danjuma in a statement on Friday, emphasised that while the division does not wish to engage with purveyors of falsehood and misinformation, it is crucial to set the record straight.
It reads, “You would recall that the Division has scaled up its anti-illegal oil bunkering operations with significant operational successes recorded.
“Only recently, intelligence revealed the existence of a notorious gang of oil thieves noted for bursting pipelines and illegal connections for oil theft in the region. In a deliberate operation conducted, troops trailed the criminals to an illegal oil bunkering site.
“In a subsequent operation carried out, troops swooped on the site, where arrests were made, including one Fisayo Soyombo who was also arrested at the scene.”
Danjuma further stressed that all the suspects were currently undergoing preliminary investigation to ascertain their level of involvement in economic sabotage.
“Therefore, his arrest is not unconnected with the activities of these oil thieves in the region. It is, therefore, important for media outlets to ensure the veracity of their information before they place them in the public domain.
“The division would like to reassure the general public of its commitment and responsiveness in ensuring the activities of criminal gangs, particularly oil thieves, are drastically curbed in the region. This, it is hoped will shore up oil and gas production in the country.”
Amnesty International Nigeria called for his “immediate and unconditional release,” labelling the detention as “arbitrary and unlawful.”
Activist Aisha Yesufu also condemned the detention, urging the Nigerian Army to focus on terrorists instead of journalists. “Dear Nigerian Army, go and arrest Bello Turji, who has killed Nigerians and even your personnel. Leave Fisayo alone. Journalism is not a crime,” she posted on X.
Similarly, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting described the detention as an attack on press freedom, echoing widespread demands for Soyombo’s release.
