Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have detained Adejuwon Soyinka, a respected investigative journalist and Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The arrest took place on Sunday morning shortly after Soyinka landed in Nigeria on a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.
The incident, which occurred around 5:40 am, has sparked alarm within media and human rights circles, as Soyinka has reportedly been held incommunicado since his detention.
A distress message from a close friend to this newspaper indicated that the DSS has not provided any justification for Soyinka’s arrest, leaving his colleagues and loved ones in a state of uncertainty about his whereabouts and welfare.
The friend, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed grave concern, stating, “Adejuwon Soyinka has been detained by officers of the Department of State Services at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Since his arrest, all attempts to reach him have failed; messages and calls to his phone remain unanswered.”
This development has ignited outrage among journalists and press freedom advocates, who fear that Soyinka’s arrest may be linked to his investigative work. The lack of a clear rationale for his detention has only intensified speculation that the DSS might be trying to suppress journalistic freedom in Nigeria.
When approached for clarification, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya claimed he was unaware of Soyinka’s arrest. This response has done little to alleviate the growing anxiety surrounding the case, as it remains unclear what charges, if any, are being brought against the journalist.
Adejuwon Soyinka is well-known for his investigative reporting, which has frequently illuminated corruption and misconduct at various levels of government.
His arrest is the latest in a troubling trend of intimidation, harassment, and detention faced by journalists in Nigeria, raising significant concerns about the state of press freedom in the country.
Currently, media organizations and civil rights groups are demanding Soyinka’s immediate release and are urging the DSS to provide a clear explanation for his detention.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges facing journalists in Nigeria and underscores the urgent need to safeguard press freedom in a democratic society.
The situation is fluid, and the public is eagerly awaiting more information regarding Soyinka’s status and the reasons for his detention.
