Nigerian police released Fisayo Soyombo, a journalist and founder of the online newspaper FIJ, who was arrested on Monday.
FIJ made this known in a tweet shortly after announcing his arrest.
“We can confirm that our Founder @fisayosoyombo has been released by the Force Headquarters.
“He was released on bail at exactly 6:26 pm today and is due back on January 13, 2022.
“Our only offense here is that we published a TRUE story,” the newspaper tweeted on its verified Twitter account.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Nigerian police detained the journalist after a post in which his newspaper accused a high-ranking police officer.
In a statement signed by Damilola Ayeni, the journalist was invited in connection with a report in which she exposed the Police Commissioner, Joseph Egbunike, who approved the establishment of a police transit camp in six states, a project that according to the newspaper was non-existent. or scarce. work done.
Mr. Egbunike was in charge of the panel created by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, to investigate the conflicting commander of the Police Intelligence Unit, Abba Kyari.
“Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), is currently being detained at the Force headquarters, Abuja, by the police. Soyombo was on a long journey on November 23 when he received an SMS saying:
“Good afternoon sir, this office is conducting an investigation in which your name and telephone number appear, in view of this, you must interview the Head of the IGP Monitoring Unit on November 29, 2021 before 1000 hours on the 1st floor, Force Hqtrs, Abuja. Thanks.”
“Knowing that he did not commit any offense, he complied with the police invitation on Monday, days after returning from the trip, only to discover that he was in connection with a story that exposed the adjudication of transit police camp projects that do not exist with the tune of the contract. sums, ”FIJ said in a statement.
Intimidation of journalists
The Nigerian police are known for their constant intimidation and violation of the rights of journalists whose reports do not favor them.
The Force had detained journalists on several occasions for these reports, which the police often link to criminal investigations.
Other journalists suffer inhumane treatment while covering protests and other demonstrations that are perceived as anti-government.