BREAKING: DSS Arrests Journalist, Soyinka, in Lagos, Details Emerge

BREAKING: DSS Arrests Journalist, Soyinka, in Lagos, Details Emerge

  • A top Nigerian journalist, Adejuwon Soyinka, has been arrested by the country's secret police, the DSS
  • Soyinka was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport early on Sunday morning, August 25, as he came in from the UK
  • According to an international media watchdog, Nigeria is one of West Africa's "most dangerous and difficult countries for journalists"

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public journalism.

Ikeja, Lagos state - Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a journalist, Adejuwon Soyinka.

Legit.ng reports that Soyinka is the regional editor of The Conversation Africa and a former staff of the BBC.

Breaking news: Details emerge as DSS arrests journalist Adejuwon Soyinka in Lagos
Journalist Juwon Soyinka has been arrested by the DSS. Photo credit: @NigeriaStories
Source: Twitter

Detained Adejuwon Soyinka held incommunicado

He was arrested at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Sunday morning, August 25, according to The Punch.

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The newspaper said a distress message sent by one of Soyinka's friends showed that the journalist was picked up shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom (UK).

Per Premium Times, no reason was given for the arrest.

Soyinka is said to have been held incommunicado.

The message reads:

“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.
"Soyinka has not been reachable as messages and calls to his phone have been unanswered.”

When contacted, Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson, said he was not aware of Soyinka’s arrest.

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Seeming worsening press freedom in Nigeria

Legit.ng reports that Nigeria is ranked 112th out of 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. It is known for the country's tough environment for journalists who face frequent arrests and prosecution.

At least 25 journalists have been prosecuted under the country's Cybercrime Act since it was introduced in 2015, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. They include eight detained under President Bola Tinubu.

DSS arrests EndBadGovernance protest leader

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the DSS arrested Michael Lenin, a key leader of the ongoing EndBadGovernance protests in the federal capital territory (FCT).

Lenin was seized from his home in Apo area of Abuja.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ridwan Adeola avatar

Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content creator with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.