The Nigerian Army has arrested Nigerian investigative journalist and publisher of online newspaper, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Fisayo Soyombo in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
This was confirmed on Friday via @fijnigeria its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, stating that Soyombo has been in the Army’s custody in the last three days.
Soyombo has recently engaged the Nigeria Customs Service by exposing some alleged corruption and smuggling enabled by its officials at the borders.
The FIJ has requested an immediate release of the journalist, pointing at such action as threat to press freedom in the country.
“The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo 3 days running. Journalism is not a crime,” FIJ said.
Soyombo is known for his investigative reporting on high-profile cases such human right abuses, corruption, and abuse of power.
NIGERIAN ARMY CLARIFIES ALLEGED DETENTION OF JOURNALIST IN PORT HARCOURT
Reacting to the news of Soyombo’s arrest, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, in a press release obtained by PACESETTER from the Nigerian Army’s official X handle, said he was arrested by troops who tracked suspected oil bunkerers to an illegal oil bunkering site.
The press release reads:
The Headquarters, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, has expressed concern over allegations circulating on social media that it detained an investigative journalist in Port Harcourt. While the Division does not typically engage with the purveyors of falsehoods, it is necessary to set the record straight.
As part of its intensified operations against illegal oil bunkering, the 6 Division Nigerian Army has recorded significant successes. Recent intelligence uncovered the activities of a notorious gang involved in pipeline vandalism and illegal oil connections in the region. In a carefully planned operation, troops tracked the suspects to an illegal oil bunkering site. During the operation, multiple arrests were made, including that of Mr Fisayo Soyombo, who was found at the scene.
The suspects, including Mr Soyombo, are currently undergoing preliminary investigations to determine their level of involvement in the illegal activities. His arrest is directly linked to the ongoing anti-oil theft operations in the region, and any claims suggesting otherwise are baseless. The Division strongly urges media outlets to verify the accuracy of their reports before disseminating information to the public.
The 6 Division Nigerian Army remains committed to combating criminal activities, particularly oil theft, to ensure the protection of national resources and increased oil and gas production in the region. The Nigerian Army assures the public of its dedication to upholding security and welcomes constructive engagements to foster understanding and transparency.