The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Adejuwon Soyinka, a former editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, after detaining him for several hours at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Soyinka, who is also the West African editor of The Conversation Africa, was arrested upon his arrival from the UK on Sunday morning.
The DSS did not disclose the reason for Soyinka’s detention, although it is believed to be part of an increasing crackdown on journalists in Nigeria. Initially, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya denied knowledge of the arrest, but later confirmed that Soyinka was held at the request of another agency.
The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors and media executives, intervened, leading to Soyinka’s release. However, his international passport remains in the possession of the DSS. IPI condemned the arrest, describing it as an attempt to intimidate journalists under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, and demanded the immediate return of Soyinka’s passport. The IPI also called for an end to the harassment and intimidation of journalists in Nigeria.