The Nigerian Military has confirmed that investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo was arrested at an unlawful oil bunkering website.
The military’s assertion got here in response to public outcry over Soyombo’s detention.
The Basis for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) revealed on X (previously Twitter) that Soyombo had been held in Military custody for the previous three days.
“The 6 Division of the Nigerian Military in Port Harcourt has been detaining our founder, Fisayo Soyombo, for 3 days operating. Journalism just isn’t against the law,” FIJ mentioned.
Confirming Soyombo’s arrest in a press release on Friday, the Performing Deputy Director of 6 Division Military Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, defined that the operation resulting in Soyombo’s detention adopted intelligence relating to a infamous gang of oil thieves concerned in pipeline sabotage and unlawful oil connections within the area.
Danjuma acknowledged that the suspects arrested on the website, together with Soyombo, are presently present process preliminary investigations to find out their stage of involvement.
“You’ll recall that the Division has intensified its anti-illegal oil bunkering operations, reaching important operational successes,” Danjuma mentioned.
“Lately, intelligence revealed the presence of a infamous gang of oil thieves identified for pipeline sabotage and unlawful oil connections. In a focused operation, troops traced the criminals to an unlawful oil bunkering website. Throughout the operation, arrests had been made, together with that of Fisayo Soyombo, who was additionally detained on the scene.”
“The suspects are presently present process preliminary investigations to evaluate their involvement. Due to this fact, Soyombo’s arrest is linked to the actions of those oil thieves within the area. It will be significant for media retailers to make sure the accuracy of the knowledge they publish,” he added.
“The Division reassures the general public of its dedication to curbing felony actions, significantly oil theft, within the area, which is able to finally assist enhance oil and fuel manufacturing within the nation,” Danjuma concluded.