Fisayo Soyombo appalauds Nigerians, media for solidarity following release from custody

Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo has expressed his gratitude to Nigerians and the media for their overwhelming support, which he credits for helping secure his release from the Nigerian Army’s detention.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Soyombo recounted his arrest and subsequent three-day detention, which began in the early hours of Wednesday.

Soyombo described how he was interrogated on the day of his arrest and kept in a cell overnight.

He stated that the expected follow-up questioning on Thursday did not take place, and he was instead informed that the Army would take more time to investigate his identity as an investigative journalist.

Despite the initial interrogation, he noted that his release came after significant public outcry and advocacy from media organizations and Nigerians alike, underscoring the crucial role their solidarity played in his freedom.

He wrote, “’Nigerians are not worth fighting for.’ I hear that every now and then, and I’ve always disbelieved it.

“Yesterday, you proved me right. You all are the reason my detention by HQ Nigerian Army lasted ‘only’ three days. I’m a free man today because of your social media engagements with #FreeFisayoNow and the publications/broadcasts by the traditional media. And I can prove it.

“After my arrest at about 2am on Wednesday, I was grilled by different levels of the Army until deep into the night. I didn’t return to my cell until at least 11pm on Wednesday. My case was then forwarded to a superior office that was to interrogate me on Thursday.

“Surprisingly, Thursday was uneventful; from morning until night, this office never sent for me. I soon learnt the Army would take ‘as long as it wanted’ to conduct their ‘investigation’ just to establish that I was indeed an investigative journalist.”