The Department of State Services (DSS) has returned the passport of Adejuwon Soyinka, editor of The Conversation Africa, following his arrest earlier this week.
Soyinka, accompanied by human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, retrieved his passport from the DSS office in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Effiong stated that the DSS attributed Soyinka’s arrest to “mistaken identity.” The Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) has expressed shock over the violation of Soyinka’s rights by the DSS.
Musikilu Mojeed, President of IPI Nigeria, stated, “IPI Nigeria will consult with Soyinka to decide how to respond to this unbelievable demonstration of incompetence by operatives of a key intelligence agency.”
He called for accountability, suggesting a formal apology from the DSS and a commitment to avoid such behavior in the future.
The DSS had initially intercepted Soyinka based on a request from another government agency.
Reports indicated that Soyinka was arrested on August 25, 2024, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos shortly after arriving from the United Kingdom.
A message from a friend of Soyinka revealed, “Adejuwon Soyinka has been detained by officers of the Department of State Security at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos… No reason had been given for his detention at the time, and Soyinka was unreachable.”
Soyinka was released after six hours in detention, following intervention by IPI Nigeria. The DSS had seized his passport as part of his bail conditions and requested his Nigerian address and a reliable phone number for further contact.
