JUST IN: Army releases Journalist Fisayo Soyombo

Nigerian investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, has been released by the Nigerian Army.

The FIJ, in a social media post on Friday, confirmed that its founder had been arrested by Army’s 6th Division for three days, Tribune Online reported.

But the Nigerian Army, in a statement released on its official X account on Friday, said Soyombo was found and arrested at an illegal oil bunkering site, adding that the journalist was being detained over alleged involvement in the illicit oil theft.

In a recent development, the FIJ confirmed that following the intense media campaign with the hashtag calling for the release of Soyombo, the journalist has been released.

“We can confirm that our founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo has now been released by the Nigerian army, following the intense media campaign you all mounted,” FIJ said.

Continuing, the Foundation promised to appropriately address the claim by the Nigerian Army that its founder was involved in illegal oil bunkering.

Read Also: Why we arrested Journalist Fisayo Soyombo — Army

“FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in “illegal oil bunkering”. FIJ will also address this statement appropriately.

“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of ‘Fisayo Soyombo in view of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention. We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release,” the FIJ post added.