Nigerian investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo has expressed gratitude to Nigerians who protested for his release.
Soyombo on November 29 was arrested and detained by the Nigerian Army’s 6th Division in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) confirmed on its official page on Friday morning stating that the arrest occurred three days ago.
His detention was connected to his investigative work uncovering corruption and smuggling operations facilitated by the Nigerian Customs Service.
Following his detention, private individuals, organization including Nigerians on X used the hashtag #FreeFisayoNow to clamour for his immediate release.
Shortly after the entire social media went agog with demand of his release, Fisayo Soyombo was finally released on the evening of Friday.
Reacting to how Nigerians came through for him, Soyombo in a post on his official X handle on Saturday said the social media engagements with #FreeFisayoNow and the publications/broadcasts by the traditional media facilitated his release.
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He admitted that what he experienced in those few days in cell made him doubt the common phrase that ‘Nigerians are not worth fighting for’.
His post reads,”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!,” he added.
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