The Department of State Services (DSS) has refused to return the phones, drone, and other electronic equipment belonging to journalist Zainab Sodiq, even after releasing her without charge following three days of detention, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Ms. Sodiq, a journalist who has been covering the activities of human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was detained by the secret police after she was found in possession of a DJI Mavic Air 2 drone belonging to Sowore.
According to information available, the DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, personally supervised her detention.
Sources also indicated that the DSS leadership was angered by a series of reports published by SaharaReporters alleging violations of Nigerians’ rights by the agency, as well as growing public criticism of the DSS’s prosecution of Sowore over his description of President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
Although Ms. Sodiq was released on Friday night without any formal charge, the DSS has continued to withhold four mobile phones and other devices she used in the course of her journalistic work.
Officials have reportedly informed her that the devices would not be returned unless she complied with additional, unspecified procedures.
The agency has also refused to release the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone, claiming that it was illegally imported into Nigeria. Neither the drone nor the other seized equipment has been returned.
The continued seizure of Ms. Sodiq’s journalistic equipment, despite her release without charge, has drawn criticism from human rights lawyers and press freedom advocates, who argue that it raises serious concerns about due process, freedom of the press, and the use of state security powers against journalists covering matters of public interest.
They contend that the confiscation of her devices constitutes ongoing interference with her work and an infringement of her constitutional rights.
Ms. Sodiq’s detention sparked widespread condemnation from journalists, civil society organisations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Amnesty International Nigeria, human rights advocates, and members of the public across Nigeria and abroad, many of whom demanded her immediate and unconditional release.
SaharaReporters on Friday reported that the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, announced the release of female journalist, Ms. Zainab Sodiq, from detention, describing her freedom as a victory against repression achieved through the collective efforts of Nigerians and human rights advocates.
Sowore had disclosed the development in a statement on Friday, expressing appreciation to individuals and organisations whose sustained intervention and public pressure contributed to securing Sadiq’s release.
According to him, Sodiq’s freedom came after the conscientious intervention and determined pressure mounted by Nigerians both within the country and in the diaspora.
“We have good news! Ms. Zainab Sodiq is finally free from the grip of repression!” Sowore had declared.
He said her release followed persistent advocacy by several prominent human rights defenders, legal practitioners, journalists, civil society organisations and activists who refused to remain silent in the face of what he described as injustice.
Sowore specifically acknowledged the contributions of senior human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN); Musikilu Mojeed of the International Press Institute (IPI); Barrister Marshal D. F. Abubakar; human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju; Amnesty International Nigeria; activists of the Take-It-Back Movement; journalists; civil society organisations; and numerous Nigerians who joined calls for Sodiq’s freedom.