‘Why Investigative Journalist Fisayo Soyombo Was Arrested, Detained’ — Nigerian Army
The army said the journalist was arrested during anti-illegal oil bunkering operations in the South-South. Civil society organisations and human rights activists insist the army lacks the right to arrest.
The military has reacted to reports on the arrest of investigative journalist and founder of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Fisayo Soyombo, who is currently in the detention of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the country’s South-south region.
According to FIJ staff, Soyombo went incommunicado on Nov. 26. It was only on Friday morning that his team was able to get notification that he was in military custody. They could not immediately establish why he was being detained.
But reacting to media publications on his arrest, the military, in a statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said the journalist was arrested during anti-illegal oil bunkering operations in the South-South.
“Intelligence revealed the existence of a notorious gang of oil thieves noted for bursting pipelines and illegal connections for oil theft in the region. In a deliberate operation conducted, troops trailed the criminals to an illegal oil bunkering site. In a subsequent operation carried out, troops swooped on the site, where arrests were made, including one Fisayo Soyombo who was also arrested at the scene,” part of the statement read.
“The suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation to ascertain their level of involvement or otherwise. Therefore, his arrest is not unconnected with the activities of these oil thieves in the region.”
Reactions
Meanwhile, civil society organisations and journalists have reacted differently to the journalist’s arrest and detention. The Media Rights Agenda (MRA), in a statement by its Programme Officer, John Gbadamosi, described Soyombo’s arrest and detention over the last three days as illegal and unconstitutional.
“The Nigerian Army lacks the authority to arrest or detain civilians. In any event, it is a clear requirement under the Constitution that anyone who is deprived of his personal liberty upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed a criminal offence, must be charged to court within 24 hours. Both of these fundamental legal guarantees have been violated in the arrest and detention of Soyombo by the Nigerian Army.”
He added that the action of the Nigerian Army in arresting and detaining a journalist who is not subject to any military law constitutes a gross misuse of power and is deeply concerning.
“We, therefore, call on President Bola Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to restrain the Nigerian Army and other military authorities to desist from this recurring abuse of their powers and disregard for the Constitution and other laws as they continue to portray Nigeria as a lawless society,” the group said.
Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo was arrested by the Nigerian Army during operations against illegal oil bunkering in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria.
The military stated Soyombo was detained at an illegal oil site and is under preliminary investigation. Civil society organizations and journalists criticized the arrest, with Media Rights Agenda calling it unconstitutional, arguing the army lacks authority to detain civilians and must charge suspects within 24 hours.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to stop military abuses and uphold constitutional norms.
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