Fisayo Soyombo, the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been released from detention by the Nigerian Army following public outrage and media advocacy. Soyombo was detained by the Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering.
The Army, in a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, claimed Soyombo was arrested at an illegal oil bunkering site alongside other suspects. However, his detention sparked widespread calls for his release, with Nigerians trending the hashtag #FreeFisayoNow on social media.
In a statement on Saturday, Soyombo expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support, crediting his freedom to public pressure.
“I’m a free man today because of your social media engagements with #FreeFisayoNow and the publications/broadcasts by the traditional media. Without your pressure, I’d still be in that cell by now, away from civilization and held incommunicado,” he said.Soyombo detailed his ordeal, including hours of interrogation by various Army officials and an unexpected transfer to the Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB) on Friday. He revealed that his case initially involved lengthy questioning to establish his identity as an investigative journalist.
