The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has reportedly detained investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo. This was revealed by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), which Soyombo founded, in a social media post on Friday morning.
According to the FIJ’s statement on X, Soyombo has been in detention for three days. The organization condemned the detention, emphasizing that "journalism is not a crime." Despite the claim, the Army has yet to release an official statement on the matter.
Soyombo, known for his investigative work, has earned a reputation for exposing corruption, human rights violations, and abuse of power. Earlier this month, he published a series of videos alleging that Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officials were involved in smuggling operations. Soyombo accused customs personnel of collaborating with a smuggler to illegally transport approximately 2,000 vehicles and smuggle bags of rice into the country. The operation was reportedly scheduled for November 10, 2024.
The ongoing detention of Soyombo has raised concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Nigeria.
