Reacting in a statement made available to SaharaReporters, the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed that Fisayo Soyombo was being detained by the military, adding that its troops swooped on an illegal oil bunkering site, where arrests were made.

The Nigerian Army has claimed that investigating journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, was arrested alongside other suspects at an oil bunkering site in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

Reacting in a statement made available to SaharaReporters, the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Lt Col Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, confirmed that Fisayo Soyombo was being detained by the military, adding that its troops swooped on an illegal oil bunkering site, where arrests were made.

“The Headquarters, 6 Division, Nigerian Army has noted with utmost concern an allegation making the rounds on the social media by SaharaReporters today, 29 November 2024. In the publication, it was alleged that the Nigerian Army detained an investigative journalist in Port Harcourt.

“You would recall that the Division has scaled up its anti illegal oil bunkering operations with huge operational successes recorded. Only recently, intelligence revealed the existence of a notorious gang of oil thieves noted for bursting pipelines and illegal connections for oil theft in the region. In a deliberate operation conducted, troops trailled the criminals to an illegal oil bunkering site. In a subsequent operation carried out, troops swooped on the site, where arrests were made, including one Fisayo Soyombo who was also arrested at the scene.

“The suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation to ascertain their level of involvement or otherwise. Therefore, his arrest is not unconnected with the activities of these oil thieves in the region.”

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Soyombo was arrested and detained by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The arrest, which took place three days ago, was confirmed by the Foundation For Investigative Journalism (FIJ) on its official page on Friday morning.

It was gathered that Soyombo’s detention may be linked to his work exposing corruption and smugglers aided by Nigerian Customs Services.

The FIJ has called for his immediate release and raised the alarm over the increasing threats to press freedom in the country.

Soyombo, known for his investigative reporting on high-profile issues such as corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations, has previously faced various threats and harassment.

Earlier in November, SaharaReporters reported that Soyombo released more videos to establish his smuggling allegations involving Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officers.

Fisayo, in a statement issued on his verified social media handles, had alleged that Nigerian customs officers had conspired with Adeyemi Habeeb Abdulganiy, an alleged multi-billionaire-naira smuggler better known as Abuga, to illegally pass about 2000 cars and smuggle in bags of rice into the country.

He had said the illegal operation was slated to take place on Sunday, 10th of November, 2024.

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