A female journalist, Sodiq Zainab, has been allegedly arrested by officials of the Department of State Services in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Third Lens gathered that Zainab, known for covering pro-democracy activities, especially those involving human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, was arrested on Wednesday after she was reportedly lured.
A source familiar with the situation in Abuja said Zainab was called to “pick up a drone,” and her whereabouts were unknown afterwards, only for close associates to later find out that she was with the DSS.
“A number contacted her to pick up a seized drone from them, but we have confirmed that she is now at the headquarters of the DSS,” the source told Third Lens.
The DSS has not made any official statement on the matter.
However, human rights group, the Take It Back Movement, has condemned the arrest, describing as unlawful “the arrest and detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja.”
“According to available information, Zainab Sodiq was arrested solely for carrying out her professional responsibility as a journalist covering the public activities of activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
“This represents yet another dangerous assault on press freedom, democracy, and human rights by the government of Tinubu,” the TIB National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, said in a statement on Wednesday evening.
He said the arrest of journalists for simply documenting events is a hallmark of authoritarian regimes and has no place in a democratic society.
“Journalism is not a crime. Reporting the activities of public figures is not an offence. The Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of the press, and no security agency has the authority to criminalise legitimate journalistic work,” he said.
The Take It Back Movement demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Zainab.
“We also demand that the DSS publicly disclose the legal basis for her arrest and desist from using state power to intimidate journalists and citizens exercising their lawful rights,” Sanyaolu added.
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