The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq, stating that she is under investigation for allegedly operating a drone without the necessary authorisation.
The security agency said Sodiq was taken into custody as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged unauthorised use of drone equipment, which it noted may violate existing regulations governing aerial surveillance and restricted airspace.
The development has sparked criticism from human rights advocates and civil society groups, with the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general election, Omoyele Sowore, calling for her immediate and unconditional release.
Sowore, alongside the Take It Back Movement, accused the DSS of unlawfully detaining the journalist, arguing that her continued custody raises concerns about press freedom and the rights of media professionals in Nigeria.
The activists urged the security agency to either formally charge Sodiq in accordance with the law or release her without delay.
As of the time of filing this report, the DSS has maintained that the journalist remains under investigation over the alleged unauthorisDSS detains journed drone operation, while further details surrounding the circumstances of her arrest have yet to be officially disclosed.
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