The Foundation of Investigative Journalism (FIJ) Founder, Fisayo Soyombo, has expressed his appreciation to the public, saying he is a free man today because of the intense social media engagement and publications by the traditional media.
He made the assertion via his verified X handle, @fisayosoyombo on Saturday morning.
NPO reports that the investigative journalist was released on Friday evening.
Recall that the investigative journalist was arrested by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers for three days.
According to the Nigerian Army, he was arrested over his connection with an ongoing anti-oil theft operations in Port Harcourt by a notorious gang involved in pipeline vandalism and illegal oil connections in the region.
The FIJ had announced his arrest via an X post, also calling on the Nigerian Army not to jeopardize his work as his devices were seized by army officers.
NPO reports that following the news of his arrest known to public, there was an aggressive trend with the hashtag #FreeFisayoNow on X.
NPO also reports that various human rights organizations and media organizations joined in the call for his release.
Soyombo in his appreciation message noted that the public is the reason for his detention lasting only three days.
“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.”
Giving account of his ordeal, he said;
”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.””
Soyombo further affirmed that without pressure from the masses, he would still be in detention and noted that his victory exists because of them.
“Without your pressure, I’d still be in that cell by now, away from civilization and held incommunicado.
“So, yes, my freedom is your freedom. This victory exists because of you, you and you. Thank you!