Fisayo Soyombo, an acclaimed investigative journalist and founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been detained by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The FIJ disclosed his detention on Friday through its official X (formerly Twitter) account, @fijnigeria, revealing that Soyombo has been held for the past three days.
Soyombo recently gained attention for exposing alleged corruption and smuggling activities involving officials of the Nigeria Customs Service at the country’s borders. His investigative work has often spotlighted issues such as corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations, making him a target of threats and harassment in the past.
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In a statement calling for his release, FIJ expressed grave concern over the implications for press freedom.
“The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for three days running. Journalism is not a crime,” the FIJ wrote.
Soyombo’s recent investigations have reportedly led to attempts to silence him, raising further alarms about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Nigeria.
