By Abiola Olawale
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), a media organisation, has announced that its founder and investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, has regained his freedom.
The FIJ announced Soyombo was released from detention by the Nigerian Army on Friday.
It would be recalled that on Friday, FIJ raised alarm that Soyombo had been arrested and detained for three days by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers state.
The development was also confirmed by acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma. In a statement on Friday, Danjuma said Soyombo was apprehended at an illegal oil bunkering site.
However, in a statement posted on the official X account of FIJ, it was confirmed that the journalist had regained his freedom.
The tweet reads: “We can confirm that our founder@fisayosoyombo has now been released by@HQNigerianArmy, following the intense media campaign you all mounted,” the post reads.
“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in “illegal oil bunkering”. FIJ will also address this statement appropriately.
“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of ‘Fisayo Soyomgiven of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention. We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release.”
