NAIJA NEWS
Investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, who Nigeria Army detained in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has thanked Nigerians for mounting pressure to ensure his release.
Naija News reported that Fisayo Soyombo was arrested and detained for three days. Following calls by Nigerians, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and activists, the Nigeria Army released him yesterday (Friday).
Soyombo said he was released because of the campaign of the citizens through different social media platforms and media pressure from Naija News and other news media.
Recounting his encounter, Soyombo narrated that he was arrested on Wednesday and subjected to many interrogations. He added that the Army had vowed to keep him in detention for as long as they wanted the investigation to last.
He explained that he would not have been freed without Nigerians and media pressure on the Nigerian Army.
“Nigerians are not worth fighting for. I hear that every now and then, and I’ve always disbelieved it.
“Yesterday (Friday), you proved me right. You all are the reason my detention by Nigerian Army lasted ‘only’ three days. I’m a free man today because of your social media engagements with #FreeFisayoNow and the publications/broadcasts by the traditional media. And I can prove it.
“After my arrest at about 2am on Wednesday, I was grilled by different levels of the Army until deep into the night. I didn’t return to my cell until at least 11pm on Wednesday. My case was then forwarded to a superior office that was to interrogate me on Thursday.
“Surprisingly, Thursday was uneventful; from morning until night, this officer never sent for me. I soon learnt the Army would take “as long as it wanted” to conduct their “investigation” just to establish that I was indeed an investigative journalist.
