Fisayo Soyombo, the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has accused the Nigerian Army of leaking sensitive information from his interrogation to suspected oil thieves. Soyombo made the claims on Saturday during an appearance on Arise Television, following his release from a three-day detention at the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Soyombo, who was detained on Thursday and released on Friday, suggested that his detention was related to his investigative work. He pointed to the fact that news of his arrest had quickly spread on social media, which he believes prompted his release. However, he expressed deep mistrust toward public institutions, citing a disturbing experience during his detention.
“Everything I told them during my grilling, the illegal bunkerers were telling me. Every single thing,” Soyombo stated, referring to the alleged leak of his personal information. He also commented on the apparent dissatisfaction of the army with his undercover reporting, noting, “The real grouse of the army is that I did not carry them along.”
Soyombo elaborated on his skepticism towards Nigerian public institutions, drawing on past investigative experiences. He recounted a particularly troubling story about an undercover investigation into an orphanage allegedly selling babies. “I bought a newborn baby for N2 million and took the child to NAPTIP [National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons], where I continued to care for the child. But after handing over the baby to the agency, I sent a representative to check on the child monthly. Then, one day, NAPTIP shut the door on us,” Soyombo shared.
In addition to the leaked information, Soyombo also alleged that two of his mobile phones were stolen by a soldier during his detention, a claim that has raised further concerns about the treatment of journalists in the country.
The accusations by Soyombo come amid increasing scrutiny of the Nigerian military’s handling of journalists and whistleblowers, as well as ongoing issues of corruption and misconduct in public institutions.
