The Department of State Services (DSS) is reportedly planning the imminent arrest of Fisayo Soyombo, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
A security official, speaking anonymously, revealed to FIJ on Wednesday that the DSS is actively tracking Soyombo’s location, stating his arrest could happen “any moment from now, once they can trace his whereabouts.”
The exact reason behind the DSS’s interest in Soyombo remains unclear. However, speculation surrounds his role as an investigative journalist, known for his undercover reporting, his social criticism on X (formerly Twitter), and his leadership at FIJ.
Recently, Soyombo released a damning undercover investigation titled ‘Undercover As A Smuggler,’ which shed light on illegal smuggling and arms trafficking in Nigeria. His reports implicated several high-ranking officials, including current Comptroller-General of Customs, Hussein Ejibunu, and other senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). One particular smuggler, IBD Dende, was even caught on camera threatening to kill an Assistant Superintendent of Customs (ASC) who had intercepted his goods.
Soyombo’s posts on X have also drawn attention for their sharp criticisms of the DSS itself, highlighting the agency’s reputation for targeting journalists and activists. FIJ’s investigative reporting included a recent exposé on First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s receipt of N700 million from the state house to purchase foreign currency for official trips between November and March.
Recall that Fisayo Soyombo was detained by the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Unit and the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre, both times after voluntarily responding to police invitations. In 2016, the Nigerian Army accused him of subversion after his investigative series on the treatment of injured soldiers during the Boko Haram conflict.
And in 2019, after an undercover stint in police custody and Ikoyi Prison, the Nigeria Immigration Service considered arresting him but retreated following public outcry.
