Investigative Journalist Fisayo Soyombo has recounted his experience during the detention ordeal with the Nigerian Army, 6 Division in Port Harcourt, criticizing the Army for leaking everything he shared with them to the illegal oil bunkers.
Recall that Tribune Online reports that the Nigerian Army, after an earlier report of Soyombo’s arrest by the 6 Division, came out to confirm the arrest, linking the investigative journalist with oil bunkering.
Soyombo, who was released the same day after three days in detention and intense social media pressure on the Army, shared his experience while speaking in an interview with Arise TV, explaining that he was arrested while conducting an undercover investigation into the activities of illegal oil bunkers in the country.
The Founder of Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), while decrying the decay in the country’s security structures, stated that oil bunkering cannot stop in Nigeria unless overhauling of the system.
According to him, there was collaborations between the illegal bunkers and some top officials of the Nigerian military, adding that he was not arrested at the spot as claimed by the Army spokesperson but offered himself to the troops for negotiations.
“Everyone other than the Nigerian Army already knows what happened. I am an investigative and undercover journalist. I was investigating illegal oil bunkering. It’s a complex story.
“It happened that someone within the security setup got offended for not being bribed, as illegal bunkers often bribe security personnel. One individual got upset, tipped others off, and suddenly they arrived.
“Everyone else ran away except me. So, there was no arrest. The Nigerian Army didn’t arrest me. They spotted me, flashed their torch, and I came out to engage them.”
The undercover journalist stated that he voluntarily approached the soldiers he had nothing to hide and on assumption that it was a “settlement conversation,” adding that “All the others fled into the bush, but I stayed because I knew I had nothing to hide.”
Speaking on his detention ordeal, Soyombo claimed the Army vindicated his actions for not informing the Military before going into such an undercover attempt.
He said, “I spent three days in military detention, and everything I told the highest levels of the Army was confirmed.
“The illegal bunkers told me everything I had shared with the Army. Was I wrong not to have carried the Army along?
“How could I have been grilled for three days, and yet, everything I told you came out before I was released? The oil bunkers even echoed my statements. They were on point, without a single mistake.”
Continuing, Soyombo described the leak as a testament of how bad the system is and possible collaboration between the Army formation and the oil bunkers, calling on the Army to explain the sensitive information he shared with them leaked out before his release.
“This incident is proof of how bad the system is. Illegal bunkering will not stop in this country because there are collaborators in multiple security formations.
“The Nigerian Army has to explain why everything I mentioned in my statement got out before me and was relayed to the illegal oil bunkers,” he said. “They even sent my last interview to them.”
Continuing, Soyombo accused the statement by the Nigerian Army spokesperson linking him to the illegal bunkering network has compromised his security, expressing concerns for his safety.
Soyombo added, “My organisation only announced my detention and made no mention of oil bunkering, but the statement released by the Army alerted the bunkers that I was onto them.”
“If not for the precautions I took before the investigation, my organisation wouldn’t have known my location. I might still be in detention today.
“They even told me they would continue the investigation for as long as necessary, even if it took two months. The only reason I’m out now is because it became public.”
The FIJ founder also shared how he was taken to a commander’s house where he was given food and had a chance to watch a UEFA Champions League match, “so they knew I wasn’t a criminal.”
Soyombo also gave a hint on possibly stepping back from undercover journalism, saying the experience may not change his approach to future stories but he was aware he’s running out of time.
He further said, “I might have just one, two, or three more undercover investigations before I stop. I would rather stop than change my approach.”
