The recent arrest and detention of Fisayo Soyombo, an investigative journalist and founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), sparked nothing but outrage from many Nigerians.
As details of the arrest gradually emerged, concerns about press freedom grew.
It became clear that Soyombo was arrested by men of the 6th Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt and has been in detention for three days.
While many analysts and experts link Soyombo’s detention to his work exposing corruption and smugglers aided by Nigerian Customs Services, we (iBrandtv.com) share a different viewpoint.
Relax, you’ll get to see reason with us soon enough.
Fisayo Soyombo Vs Nigerian Customs
Indeed, Fisayo Soyombo has been investigating the alleged corruption by the NCS.
Early November, Soyombo released videos to establish his smuggling allegations involving officers of the Customs Service.
Fisayo, in a statement issued on his verified social media handles, had accused customs officers of conspiring with Adeyemi Habeeb Abdulganiy, an alleged multi-billionaire-naira smuggler better known as Abuga, to illegally pass about 2,000 cars and smuggle in bags of rice into the country.
He had said the illegal operation was slated to take place on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
Could Fisayo’s recent arrest be linked to this?
Let’s find out.
As talks of Fisayo’s arrest continued to gain momentum, the Nigerian Army decided to open up on his arrest.
Nigerian Army Speaks
Reacting in a statement, the Acting Deputy Director 6 Division Army Public Relations, Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, said Fisayo was arrested alongside other individuals engaging in oil bunkering.
He stated that all suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation to ascertain their level of involvement or otherwise.
As a matter of fact, the Nigerian Army strongly opposed claims linking Fisayo’s arrest to the Nigerian Customs Service.
If Fisayo Soyombo was arrested in Port Harcourt and at an oil bunkering site, then it cannot be linked to Customs, cars, or even rice.
Do you remember that recently, former Niger Delta militant and Chief Executive Officer of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, had leveled serious allegations against officers of the Nigerian Navy?
According to Tompolo, naval personnel had severally shot at his men, Department of State Service (DSS) officials and officers of the Nigeria Security and Defence Corps (NSCDC) while performing pipeline surveillance duties in a desperate attempt to secure passage for oil thieves.
Of course, the Nigerian Army had reacted to this allegation.
The Hidden Truth
The military laughed at Tompolo and cautioned him against what it described as ‘cheap blackmail’.
It was just days after this allegation surfaced that Fisayo was arrested in the same Port Harcourt, at an oil bunkering site.
What was he doing there?
You see, the Nigerian Army had on Friday released Fisayo after its investigation.
That means Fisayo was not found guilty.
So again, what was Fisayo doing at an oil bunkering site in Port Harcourt?
From all indications, it is clear that Fisayo visited that site for a purpose.
Perhaps, to verify Tompolo’s allegations against the Nigerian Navy.
Also Read: Port Harcourt Refinery: Why Dangote May Not Be Happy
Even Deji Adeyanju, a Nigerian activist and lawyer, is thinking in this direction.
In fact, to him, the Nigerian Army is trying to conceal naval officers involved in oil theft.
He made the claim while reacting to the statement by the Nigerian Army regarding the arrest of Fisayo Soyombo in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He argued that the Nigerian Army’s statement indicates attempted complicity.
Now, Fisayo has been released and soon whatever he was investigating is expected to come to public knowledge.
