JUST IN: Nigerian Army releases journalist Fisayo Soyombo

Nigerian investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, who was arrested by the Nigerian army, has been released.

Mr Soyombo was released on Friday evening. His colleague, Daniel Ojukwu, confirmed his release to PREMIUM TIMES.

This newspaper learnt that he was released after a Nigerian committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) intervened in his case.

The army had said in a statement that Mr Soyombo, the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was arrested on “an illegal oil bunkering site” in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The army did not charge Mr Soyombo but said he and other suspects were undergoing preliminary investigation to ascertain their level of involvement in the oil theft incident.

However, the journalist was released Friday after IPI Nigeria’s intervention, three days after he was arrested.

IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed said the IPI worked for hours on Mr Soyombo’s matter. “Authorities have just informed us that Mr Soyombo has been released,” Mr Mojeed said.

Earlier, FIJ said Mr Soyombo’s gadgets had been seized and he was kept incommunicado during his detention.

“The Army must preserve his evidence and truth. Don’t destroy the evidence. We insist the truth must come out. It’s in your custody, don’t destroy the evidence,” FIJ said.

Mr Soyombo recently published reports on how Customs officials allow smuggling and illegal activities in Nigeria’s borders.

His arrest sheds light on Nigeria’s record of poor treatment of journalists.

Nigeria is one of West Africa’s most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists, according to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which ranked Nigeria 123 of 180 countries in its global press freedom report for 2023.

The report noted that Nigerian journalists are regularly monitored, attacked and arbitrarily arrested, and “crimes committed against journalists continue to go unpunished, even when the perpetrators are known or apprehended.”