Adejuwon Soyinka, a former editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) after being detained for several hours at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Soyinka, who is currently serving as the West African editor for The Conversation Africa, was taken into custody by DSS operatives upon his arrival from the United Kingdom on Sunday morning.
Although the reason for Soyinka’s detention was not officially disclosed, it is believed to be part of a broader trend of growing pressure on journalists in Nigeria. This incident marks another occurrence in a series of actions targeting media professionals across the country.
At first, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, claimed to have no knowledge of Soyinka’s arrest, despite numerous attempts by Vanguard to seek confirmation. However, later in the day, Afunanya confirmed the situation, stating that Soyinka had been detained at the request of another agency.
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, a global organization that brings together editors, media executives, and communication professionals, stepped in to intervene. Their efforts eventually led to Soyinka’s release.
This recent event adds to the mounting concern over the safety of journalists in Nigeria. Earlier in the year, several other journalists, including Segun Olatunji, Daniel Ojukwu, and Jamil Mabai, faced similar detentions.
