DSS Releases Journalist, Soyinka, Withholds Passport

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Adejuwon Soyinka, the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa and an investigative journalist, after detaining him upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Soyinka was arrested by DSS operatives early Sunday morning, shortly after landing from a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.

The reason for Soyinka’s detention was not immediately disclosed by the DSS, and initial attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.

A friend of Soyinka, who sent a  message to Punch about the arrest, expressed concern over the lack of communication and the unexplained circumstances surrounding the detention.

He said, “Adejuwon Soyinka has been detained by officers of the Department of State Security at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The incident happened around 5.40 am on Sunday, the 25th of August, 2024, shortly after he arrived in Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.

“As at the time of this report, no reason had been given for his detention by the security agency. Soyinka has not been reachable as messages and calls to his phone have been unanswered.”

However, in another message sent by his friend, he said Soyinka had been released by the DSS, who held him in their Ikoyi office.

The friend revealed that the DSS seized Soyinka’s passport.

“He has been released. They held onto his passport. He was released from their (DSS) Ikoyi office.”