By Felix Khanoba
The International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria has expressed deep concern over what it describes as an escalating crackdown on journalists since President Bola Tinubu took office last year.
The organidation’s latest outcry follows the arrest of Adejuwon Soyinka, a prominent journalist, by the State Security Service (SSS) on Sunday.
In a statement co-signed by its Secretary, Ahmed Shekarau, and Legal Adviser/Chair of the Advocacy Committee, Tobi Soniyi, IPI Nigeria condemned Soyinka’s arrest, labeling it a part of a broader campaign to stifle press freedom.
Soyinka, the Regional Editor for West Africa at The Conversation Africa and the Pioneer Editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, was detained at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom.
Though IPI Nigeria’s swift intervention led to Soyinka’s release after a six-hour detention, the SSS has yet to return his international passport, prompting the organisation to demand immediate release of the passport.
The press institute described the arrest of Soyinka as an ongoing attempt to intimidate and harass media professionals.
The statement read in full : “We hereby condemn the arrest of the Regional Editor, West Africa of the Conversation Africa and Pioneer Editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, Adejuwon Soyinka, by officers of the State Security Service (SSS) in Lagos.
Mr Soyinka was arrested and taken into custody at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos around 5.40am on Sunday the 25th of August, 2024 shortly after he arrived Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.
Following the intervention of IPI Nigeria, the SSS released Mr Soyinka on bail after detaining him for not less than six hours.
However, the secret police is still holding on to his international passport.
Although no reason has been given for his arrest and subsequent detention, we view the action of the SSS as part of a plot to intimidate and harass journalists by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Mr Soyinka’s arrest and detention are not isolated cases.
Since President Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, we have noticed a systematic clampdown on journalists across the country.
The gestapo manner with which Segun Olatunji was arrested and flew from Lagos to Abuja is still fresh in mind.
During the #ENDBADGOVERNANCEINNIGERIA protests across the nation, journalists were directly shot at reminiscent of the dark days of the military.
Hiding under the Cybercrime Act, the police have embarked on indiscriminate harassment and arrest of journalists.
For the flimsiest reason, journalists are being invited or arrested. The plan is to stop journalists from carrying out their legitimate duty.
We hereby demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Soyinka’s international passport.
We also demand a commitment from the federal government to uphold the freedom of the press and stop further harassment and intimidation of journalists.
In the main, we advise journalists to be vigilant and go about their reportorial duty with the highest commitment to professional ethics.”
