The Department of State Services (DSS) has acknowledged that the recent arrest of investigative journalist Adejuwon Soyinka was a result of mistaken identity. Soyinka, who is the Regional Editor for West Africa at Conversation Africa, was detained by the DSS on August 25 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, upon his return from the United Kingdom.
Soyinka was taken into custody by the secret police and his international passport was seized. Following the intervention of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, he was released, but without his passport. The DSS spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunanya, initially stated that Soyinka’s arrest was made at the request of another security agency.
However, when Soyinka returned to the DSS office as instructed, officials informed him that the arrest had been a case of mistaken identity. His passport was subsequently returned.
Reacting to the incident, IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed expressed shock and concern over the DSS’s actions. He criticized the agency for infringing on the rights of a law-abiding citizen, stating, “IPI Nigeria will consult with Mr Soyinka to decide how to respond to this unbelievable demonstration of incompetence by operatives of a key intelligence agency.”
Mojeed called for accountability, insisting that all individuals involved in the incident should be held responsible for their actions. He also urged the DSS to formally apologize to Soyinka for the inconvenience and distress caused by the wrongful arrest, and to commit to avoiding similar incidents in the future.
