The Nigerian Army has released investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo after three days in detention.
One of Soyombo’s lawyers, Abimbola Ojenike confirmed to the Punch that he was released shortly after 7 p.m.
“He has just been released some minutes ago, and we are trying to find our way out of the cantonment. He is now free and has been released to his lawyers.
Technically, this means that if his attention is required, his lawyers will have to produce him, but it is not a standard bail process,” Ojenike explained.
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism disclosed on X (formerly Twitter) that Soyombo had been in Army custody for the past three days.
“The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days. Journalism is not a crime,” FIJ wrote.
READ ALSO: Army confirms detention of journalist Fisayo Soyombo
Earlier, the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma had confirmed Soyombo’s arrest. In a statement on Friday, Danjuma said Soyombo was apprehended at an illegal oil bunkering site.
He noted that Soyombo, along with other suspects arrested at the site, was undergoing preliminary investigations to determine their level of involvement in the alleged crime.
Reacting to the arrest, X user @OfficialEdoOsasB expressed frustration over the state of democracy in Nigeria, saying: “Nigeria is a Banana Republic filled with dictators. We’re not in a democracy. When Donald Trump called it a shithole country, y’all were crying.”
Lagos-based lawyer Ridwan Oke praised Mr. Soyombo’s investigative work, saying “up till this moment, nothing has been done to investigate the persons involved.
“He has done tons of work exposing evil in this country.
“The Nigerian Military has held him in custody for three days. He’s just a journalist trying to make this country work.”
Human rights activist Rinu Oduala questioned the rationale behind the detention, asking: “Why is the Nigerian Army detaining Fisayo Soyombo for God’s sake? What kind of country is this?”
Nigeria has long been considered a challenging environment for journalists.
In its 2023 Global Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked Nigeria 123rd out of 180 countries for frequent attacks, arbitrary arrests, and a lack of accountability for crimes against journalists.
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