DSS arrests journalist, Soyinka, at Lagos airport

Agents from the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested Adejuwon Soyinka, an investigative journalist and the Regional Editor for The Conversation Africa.

The arrest occurred on Sunday at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, shortly after Soyinka arrived in Nigeria from the United Kingdom.

According to a distress message sent to The PUNCH by a close associate of Soyinka, the journalist was taken into custody by DSS operatives almost immediately after disembarking from his Virgin Atlantic flight.

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The associate reported that no reason was given for Soyinka’s sudden arrest, and that he has since been held incommunicado, with all attempts to reach him via phone proving futile.

The message read,  “Adejuwon Soyinka has been detained by officers of the Department of State Security at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The incident happened around 5.40 am on Sunday, the 25th of August, 2024, shortly after he arrived in Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.

“As at the time of this report, no reason had been given for his detention by the security agency. Soyinka has not been reachable as messages and calls to his phone have been unanswered.”

When contacted for clarification, the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, stated that he had no knowledge of Soyinka’s arrest, adding, “I am not aware of the matter you have raised and have no comments on it.”

Details later.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE