DSS officials
Operatives of the Department of State Services have arrested an investigative journalist, Adejuwon Soyinka.
Soyinka, who is the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday.
A distress message sent to sources by one of his friends stated that Soyinka was picked up shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom.
The friend in the message said no reason was given for his arrest and Soyinka had been held incommunicado.
The message read, “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.”
When contacted, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya said he was not aware of Soyinka’s arrest.
“I am not aware of the matter you have raised and have no comments on it,” he said.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has freed an investigative journalist, Adejuwon Soyinka, hours after he was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Soyinka, the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, was arrested around 5 am on Sunday, August 25, 2024, upon arrival at the Lagos airport from the United Kingdom and taken to DSS office in Ikoyi.
A source close to the former BBC Pidgin Editor confirmed his release to Channels Television.
The source, however, said the secret police seized Soyinka’s travel passport.
The reason for Soyinka’s arrest was unknown.
DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya earlier said he was not aware of the matter.
