Condemnations have followed the detention of investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo by the Nigerian Army at an oil-bunkering site in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.  

The spokesperson for the 6 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Danjuma, stated on Friday that Mr. Soyombo was arrested during an operation against crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.  

Amnesty International, in its condemnation, described the “arbitrary arrest” as unlawful and called for his immediate and unconditional release.  

“Fisayo has been in military detention and out of reach since 26 Nov. — in utter disregard for the rule of law. This draconian trend is sending the wrong signal and can force journalists to live in perpetual fear for daring to investigate and report on issues of public interest,” the organisation said.  

Amnesty International also criticised President Bola Tinubu for allegedly targeting at least 11 journalists and bloggers in their line of duty, demanding that authorities end hostility toward human rights.  

Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju accused the Navy of using anti-oil theft operations as a guise to hide its complicity in crude oil theft. He called the arrest “an attack on press freedom and an attempt to silence efforts to expose corruption.”  

“This detention undermines accountability and must end immediately,” Mr Adeyanju said.  

Criticising the Nigerian Army for overlooking the Navy’s alleged involvement in oil theft, Mr Adeyanju claimed: “Top-ranking officers often exploit postings to oil-rich regions to enrich themselves. Without the Navy’s involvement or approval, large-scale oil theft would be impossible, perpetuating corruption and economic sabotage.”  

Mr Adeyanju further stated that the arrest and seizure of Mr Soyombo’s equipment are “clear attempts to intimidate investigative journalism.” He insisted, “Nigerians deserve transparency on oil theft, and silencing journalists like Fisayo erodes public trust. His release is critical to upholding democracy and justice.”  

He urged the government to respect press freedom and called on Nigerians, civil society, and the media to resist suppression, emphasizing the need to protect investigative journalism to expose systemic corruption and safeguard democracy.  

Similarly, Omoyele Sowore, leader of the Take It Back Movement, dismissed the Nigerian Army’s statement justifying Mr Soyombo’s detention as “watery” and an attempt to cover up security agencies’ involvement in illegal oil bunkering.  

“I have just read a watery press statement by the @HQNigerianArmy that journalist @fisayosoyombo was arrested on an oil bunkering site and ‘undergoing interrogation.’ The Nigerian Army knew from the point of the so-called ‘arrest’ that Soyombo was investigating oil bunkering carried out by the usual suspects, including some high-level security officials. His arrest and illegal detention were primarily aimed at covering up these atrocities,” Mr Sowore said.  

Demanding Mr Soyombo’s immediate release, he insisted that only the police have the authority to investigate or prosecute crimes, adding that the Army’s investigative power is limited to its personnel.  

The Media Rights Agenda also condemned the arrest. Programme officer John Gbadamosi urged the government to end the persistent abuse of power and violation of the rule of law. 

He called on the army to focus on its constitutional duty of combating insurrection, which he noted is unrelated to Mr. Soyombo’s arrest.