The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has reportedly detained investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo for three days.
The arrest was confirmed by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) on Friday morning, sparking widespread concerns over press freedom in Nigeria.
Syombo’s detention is believed to be connected to his investigative reports exposing corruption within the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
Earlier in November, he released detailed allegations against customs officers, accusing them of colluding with an alleged smuggler, Adeyemi Habeeb Abdulganiy, also known as Abuga, to facilitate the illegal entry of over 2,000 cars and large quantities of rice into the country.
In one of his posts, Soyombo detailed the smuggling routes and claimed that soldiers from the 192 Battalion in Owode were aiding the operation.
Despite denying the allegations, the NCS came under heavy public scrutiny following Soyombo’s release of video evidence substantiating his claims.
The FIJ has demanded Soyombo’s immediate release, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime.
The organization also raised alarms over increasing threats to press freedom in Nigeria, noting that Soyombo has faced harassment in the past for his work uncovering corruption, human rights violations, and abuse of power.
In response to Soyombo’s allegations, NCS National Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada dismissed the claims as “fictitious” and “illogical.” Soyombo countered with additional video evidence and expressed readiness to provide more proof.
