The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Adejuwon Soyinka, a prominent investigative journalist and former Pioneer Editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, after detaining him for several hours at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Soyinka, who currently serves as the West African Regional Editor for The Conversation Africa, was arrested on Sunday morning upon his return from the United Kingdom. He had arrived aboard a Virgin Atlantic flight at approximately 5:40 a.m.
Despite being released after a lengthy interrogation, the DSS seized his passport, leaving Soyinka unable to travel. As of press time, no official reason has been provided for his arrest or the confiscation of his travel documents.
Concern grew when Soyinka’s friend shared that the journalist had been unreachable, with calls to his phone going unanswered after the incident. However, DSS Spokesperson Peter Afunanya denied any knowledge of the arrest, stating, “I am not aware of the matter you have raised.”
