The Department of State Services (DSS) in Nigeria has released Adejuwon Soyinka, a former editor of the BBC Pidgin Service and current West African editor for The Conversation Africa, following his detention at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Soyinka was apprehended on Sunday morning upon his arrival from the United Kingdom.
The reasons behind Soyinka’s detention have not been officially disclosed. However, there is a growing concern that his arrest is part of a broader crackdown on journalists in Nigeria. The International Press Institute (IPI) has strongly condemned the action, viewing it as a significant threat to press freedom under the current administration.
In a statement released by IPI Secretary Ahmed Shekarau and Tobi Soniyi, Legal Adviser and Chair of the Advocacy Committee, the organization criticized Soyinka’s arrest. The statement revealed that Soyinka was taken into custody at approximately 5:40 a.m. on August 25, 2024, shortly after arriving in Nigeria on a Virgin Atlantic flight from the UK. Despite being granted bail after about six hours, the DSS continues to withhold Soyinka’s international passport.
IPI’s statement underscores the lack of transparency regarding the reasons for Soyinka’s detention and expresses concern that this move is part of a larger strategy to intimidate and silence journalists. The organization notes that Soyinka’s case is not isolated. Since President Bola Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, there has been a noticeable increase in the repression of media professionals across the country.
The statement recalls previous incidents, such as the arrest of journalist Segun Olatunji and the use of excessive force against reporters during the #EndBadGovernance protests, drawing comparisons to past repressive periods in Nigerian history. IPI also highlights how the Cybercrime Act has been used to justify arbitrary arrests and harassment of journalists, further impeding their ability to perform their duties.
IPI has called for the immediate and unconditional return of Soyinka’s international passport and urged the federal government to reaffirm its commitment to upholding press freedom. The organization also advises journalists to remain vigilant and adhere to high ethical standards in their reporting.
The ongoing situation raises serious questions about the state of press freedom in Nigeria and the extent of government efforts to control and intimidate the media. As developments continue, the international community and press organizations are closely monitoring the situation and advocating for the protection of journalists’ rights.
