The Nigerian Army has released investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo after the social media went agog with reports of his arrest in Port Harcourt.
In a statement on Friday, the Army said it had arrested and detained Soyombo, in connection with illegal bunkering in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
His detention was confirmed in a Friday statement by the Acting Deputy Director of 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma.
After his arrest, social media, especially X went agog with hashtag #FreeFisayoNow, with many Nigerians calling for his release from detention.
In an update on Saturday, Soyombo said he had been set free after spending only three days in Army’s custody.
He wrote, “Nigerians are not worth fighting for.” I hear that every now and then, and I’ve always disbelieved it.
“Yesterday, you proved me right. You all are the reason my detention by @HQNigerianArmy 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 office 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.
To my utmost surprise, on Friday morning, at about 11am or thereabouts, I was retrieved from my cell for transfer to the Military Intelligence Brigade (MIB). It was during the transfer that someone who ran into me asked to know my name, after which they said: “You’re the one; you’re in the news.”
“Without your pressure, I’d still be in that cell by now, away from civilisation and held incommunicado. So, yes, my freedom is your freedom. This victory exists because of you, you and you. Thank you!”
