Nigerian investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo has reportedly been arrested and detained by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The arrest, which took place three days ago, was confirmed by the Foundation For Investigative Journalism (FIJ) on Friday morning.
Soyombo’s detention is believed to be linked to his work exposing corruption and smugglers aided by the Nigerian Customs Services. The FIJ has called for his immediate release and raised concerns over the increasing threats to press freedom in the country.
Known for his investigative reporting on high-profile issues such as corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations, Soyombo has previously faced various threats and harassment.
The FIJ stated, “The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo for 3 days running. Journalism is not a crime.”
Earlier in November, SaharaReporters reported that Soyombo released more videos to support his smuggling allegations involving Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officers.
In a statement on his verified social media handles, Soyombo alleged that Nigerian customs officers conspired with Adeyemi Habeeb Abdulganiy, an alleged multi-billionaire-naira smuggler better known as Abuga, to illegally pass about 2,000 cars and smuggle in bags of rice into the country.
He claimed the illegal operation was set to take place on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
Soyombo wrote, “All is set. Your men, working with Adeyemi Habeeb Abdulganiy, the multi-billionaire-smuggler better known as Abuga, are primed to pass more than 2,000 cars containing at least 65 bags of rice each from Bebe in the Benin Republic into Sango, Nigeria.
Some of these cars will enter Sango from the toll gate by driving against traffic, consequently endangering lives, while some will gain entry into Sango through Ifo; others will use the Oju-Ore-Ota route. Road users in Sango can expect traffic congestion early tomorrow morning unless this post prompts an about-face from the actors.
I understand as well that soldiers from the 192 battalion at Owode will be patrolling during the journey to prevent any resistance. So, @CustomsNG, just so you know, the people are watching; they will be hysterically laughing at you when you announce ‘seizure of one million bags of rice and 25 cartons of guns’ later this week.”
However, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, told SaharaReporters that Soyombo’s claims were fictitious, stating it was illogical for anyone to believe their personnel were involved in the illegal operation.
In another post, Soyombo released two more videos to substantiate his smuggling allegations against the customs officers. He said, “Since Maiwada considers my revelations ‘tales by moonlight’, I am supplying two more video evidence of smuggling-ready rice cars merely awaiting final clearance from rogue Customs officers.
If, after this, Maiwada still considers my revelations fictitious, I’m happy to share more videos with you. I’m just trying to be useful to you, so you can in turn be useful to Nigerians rather than your pockets,” the journalist added.
