Army releases publisher of FIJ, Fisayo Soyombo

Nigerian army has released the publisher of Foundation for Investigative Journalism, Mr. Fisayo Soyombo after three-day detention.

His release was announced by Abimbola Ojenike, one of Soyombo’s lawyers.

Mr Abimbola said the investigative journalist was released shortly after 7pm on Friday, 29 November, 2024.

“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 said.

Also, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) announced his release on X, having earlier disclosed that he had been in military detention.

“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,” the FIJ posted.

Moreover, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations for the 6 Division, previously confirmed Soyombo’s arrest.

In a statement, Danjuma explained that Soyombo was taken into custody at a site involved in illegal oil bunkering.

He added that the journalist, along with others detained at the scene, was under investigation to determine their level of involvement in the alleged activities.

Soyombo is known for his investigative reporting on high-profile issues such as corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations.

Recall that in November, he released more videos to establish his smuggling allegations against officers of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

The investigative journalist had alleged that customs officers conspired with a smuggler, to illegally pass about 2000 cars and smuggle in bags of rice into the country.

He had said the illegal operation was slated to take place on Sunday, November 10, 2024.

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