Adejuwon Soyinka, Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa and an investigative journalist, has been released after being detained by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Soyinka was arrested by DSS operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Sunday, shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom.
According to a distress message sent to “The PUNCH” by one of Soyinka’s friends, he was taken into custody around 5:40 am, with no reason provided for his detention.
Soyinka was reportedly held incommunicado, as all attempts to contact him through messages and calls went unanswered.
“Adejuwon Soyinka has been detained by officers of the Department of State Security at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The incident happened around 5:40 am on Sunday, August 25, 2024, shortly after he arrived in Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.
As of the time of this report, no reason had been given for his detention by the security agency. Soyinka has not been reachable,” the message read.
When contacted for comment, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya stated, “I am not aware of the matter you have raised and have no comments on it.”
However, later reports from Soyinka’s friend confirmed his release from the DSS’s Ikoyi office.
The DSS, however, withheld Soyinka’s passport upon his release.
“He has been released. They held onto his passport. He was released from their Ikoyi office,” the friend said.
