Nigerian journalist Adejuwon Soyinka, the West African Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, has been detained by the State Security Service (SSS).
PREMIUM TIMES reported on Sunday that Soyinka, a former pioneer editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, was detained by SSS operatives at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos around 5:40 a.m. upon his arrival from the United Kingdom via a Virgin Atlantic flight.
As of now, the SSS has not provided any reason for his detention. When contacted, the SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, stated, “I am not aware of the matter you have raised and have no comments on it, please.”
Colleagues of the award-winning journalist have expressed concern, noting that he has been unreachable, with calls and messages to his phone going unanswered.
Recently, Nigerian authorities indicated that individuals involved in the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest have been placed on a watchlist at international airports. It remains unclear whether Soyinka’s detention is related to this action, though he is not publicly known to have participated in the protest.
The treatment of journalists during the protest has drawn criticism, with several reporters attacked and brutalized by security agents, including SSS personnel. In one incident in Abuja, operatives fired live ammunition at a car carrying journalists covering the protests at the Moshood Abiola Stadium.
This detention has raised further concerns about the safety and freedom of journalists in Nigeria.
