After International Press Institute’s proactive intervention Soyinka regains freedom from detention

The President of International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria Chapter Musikilu Mojeed has confirmed the release of Adejuwon Soyinka who was in the early hours of Sunday picked by the State Security Service (SSS) on arrival from United Kingdom.

Penpushing reports that spokesperson of the State Security Service (SSS), Peter Ifunnaya had earlier confirmed Soyinka’s arrest from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, adding that the arrest was based on a request from another government agency.

The agency spokesperson, however, did not provide the identity of the agency on whose behalf, he said, the arrest of the West African Regional Editor of the Conversation Africa and pioneer Editor of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Pidgin Service was carried out

Penpushing further reports that Ifunnaya earlier denied knowledge of the arrest when the International Press Institute (IPI) approached him, but sources said after Soyinka’s arrest he was driven from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to the State Security Service (SSS) headquarters annex in Lagos.

The Nigerian journalist, it is recalled flew into Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight and was picked at about 5.40 a.m, while Ifunnaya said in the event that the operatives is unable to promptly communicate with the agency requesting the arrest, he (Soyinka) would be released and asked to report back on Monday

Penpushing also reports that after the International Press Institute (IPI) mounted pressure on the State Security Service (SSS), the authorities own up and few hours after the journalist was released but as at the time of filing this report, it was not clear if his international passport was released

‘We have tapped all relevant contacts in government. The SSS has now committed to releasing him immediately. I just spoke with Mr Soyinka. He has been released. He will soon be out there’, Mojeed said

Penpushing reports that record showed that Soyinka’s arrest is the latest episode that mirrors the continued deterioration of press freedom in Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu who took over power a year ago

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