Nigerian investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, has taken to social media to thank Nigerians for ensuring his quick release from detention.
Soyombo was arrested by the army on Wednesday while undergoing an undercover report and was released on Friday evening, Nov. 29.
The army admitted to holding on to Fisayo shortly after his arrest, saying he was apprehended on “an illegal oil bunkering site” in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They said he and other suspects were undergoing preliminary investigation to ascertain their level of involvement in the oil theft incident.
Social media campaign was mounted for his release with the hashtag #FreeFisayoNow.
He was released on Friday evening.
Upon his release, he took to X to thank Nigerians for their support and campaign for his release, which he said was the reason he was released early.
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 @HQNigerianArmy 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 2 am 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 11 pm 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.
To my utmost surprise, on Friday morning, at about 11 am or thereabouts, I was retrieved from my cell for transfer to the Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB). It was during the transfer that someone who ran into me asked to know my name, after which they said: “You’re the one; you’re in the news.”
Without your pressure, I’d still be in that cell by now, away from civilisation and held incommunicado. So, yes, my freedom is your freedom. This victory exists because of you, you and you. Thank you!”
