Lagos, Nigeria β August 25, 2024: The State Security Service (SSS) has released Nigerian journalist Adejuwon Soyinka after detaining him for over six hours on Sunday. Mr. Soyinka, who is the West African Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, was arrested by SSS operatives early Sunday morning upon his arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos from the United Kingdom.
The journalist, who landed at about 5:40 a.m. on a Virgin Atlantic flight, was taken to the SSS headquarters annex in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he was held until his release at approximately 12:30 p.m. His release came after the intervention of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria.
As a condition for his bail, Mr. Soyinka’s passport was confiscated by the SSS, and he was required to provide a Nigerian address and a reliable phone number for contact. In a text message to PREMIUM TIMES shortly after his release, Mr. Soyinka confirmed that the SSS was holding onto his passport. “I have just been released by the DSS (SSS) in Lagos. They are holding on to my passport, though. I am in an Uber ride ordered for me by the Deputy Director of DSS in Lagos,” he said.
The reasons behind his arrest remain unclear. The SSS, when contacted, stated that Mr. Soyinka was “intercepted” based on a request from another government agency. However, the spokesperson for the SSS, Peter Ifunnaya, declined to disclose which agency made the request or the specific allegations against the journalist.
Mr. Soyinka’s detention occurs in the context of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Nigeria. His arrest follows recent nationwide protests against bad governance, during which security forces, including the SSS, were accused of harassing journalists and peaceful protesters.
Mr. Soyinka has indicated that he will share more details about his experience once he returns home.
