By Bayero Ade
Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has extended heartfelt gratitude to Nigerians for their swift intervention that led to his release from detention by the Nigerian Army.
Soyombo was arrested in Rivers State on Wednesday over allegations of involvement in oil bunkering and was held for three days. His release was facilitated by widespread public outcry, including efforts by Amnesty International, activists such as Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju, and social media campaigns under the hashtag #FreeFisayoNow.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, Soyombo praised Nigerians for their decisive action and highlighted the role their support played in securing his freedom.
”‘Nigerians are not worth fighting for.’ I hear this often, but I’ve never believed it. Yesterday, you all proved me right. The reason my detention by the Nigerian Army lasted just three days is because of your collective efforts—your social media engagements, the hashtag #FreeFisayoNow, and traditional media coverage. I’m free today because of you,” he wrote.
Describing his experience, Soyombo revealed that after his arrest at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday, he was subjected to intense interrogation and returned to his cell late at night. Despite assurances of further questioning the next day, he was left unattended on Thursday, raising concerns that his detention could be prolonged indefinitely.
However, events took a surprising turn on Friday when he was transferred to the Military Intelligence Brigade. During the transfer, a bystander recognized him and said, “You’re the one; you’re in the news.”
“Without your pressure, I’d still be in that cell, cut off from the world and held incommunicado. My freedom is your freedom, and this victory belongs to all of us,” Soyombo added.
His release underscores the impact of public advocacy and social media in addressing human rights violations and promoting accountability in Nigeria.
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