In a recent incident impacting press freedom in Nigeria, Adejuwon Soyinka, an investigative journalist and Regional Editor for West Africa at The Conversation Africa, was detained by the Department of State Security (DSS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
The arrest happened took place at about 5:40 am, shortly after Soyinka arrived from the UK on a Virgin Atlantic flight. Witnesses reported that DSS officers detained Soyinka during immigration checks but did not offer any explanation for his arrest.
Efforts to contact Soyinka have been unsuccessful, increasing concerns among his colleagues and press freedom advocates who are seeking more information. Soyinka, renowned for his investigative journalism and as the former Pioneer Editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, has played a key role in providing critical news coverage in West Africa.
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The DSS has not yet provided any official statement or reason for Soyinka’s detention, leading to fears that his arrest could be connected to his journalistic work. Human rights and press freedom organizations have criticized the detention and are calling for Soyinka’s immediate release.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Nigerian authorities to respect journalists’ rights and avoid actions that threaten press freedom. “Journalists must be able to work without fear of retaliation or interference,” the CPJ stated.
Soyinka’s detention raises broader questions about press freedom in Nigeria, where journalists often face intimidation and violence. The DSS’s history of handling journalists and activists adds to concerns about the current situation, potentially straining relations between the media and the government.
By: Olamide Ayoade
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