Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has rejected the Department of State Services (DSS) explanation for the detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq, alleging that the agency targeted her to obstruct the perfection of his bail rather than over the possession of a drone.
The DSS had earlier stated that Sodiq was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while travelling to Abuja with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) allegedly without the required End User Certificate (EUC), adding that investigations into the matter were ongoing.
However, in a post on X on Thursday, Sowore described the agency’s explanation as misleading, insisting that the drone belonged to him and not to the journalist.
“I had publicly disclosed this concern months ago. The DJI Mavic Air drone in question belongs personally to me,” Sowore wrote.
According to him, the drone has been used for media coverage of elections and other public events. He claimed that when DSS operatives questioned the drone at the airport, he informed them it was his property and instructed Sodiq to leave it behind and continue her journey to Abuja.
Sowore further alleged that Sodiq was travelling with his international passport, which was required to meet bail conditions imposed by Justice M.G. Umar. He claimed the real intention behind her detention was to prevent the passport from reaching Abuja and frustrate the completion of his bail process.
He also alleged that Sodiq honoured an invitation to the DSS office voluntarily but was immediately taken into custody without being allowed to pay the fare for the Bolt ride that brought her there.
According to Sowore, his legal team later contacted the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, who allegedly described Sodiq’s detention as a “routine screening” connected to the drone. He claimed the agency’s position changed after he made the incident public on social media.
Sowore accused the DSS of using state institutions to intimidate journalists, activists and government critics, describing the detention as part of a broader pattern of suppressing dissent.
Meanwhile, the DSS has maintained that Sodiq was intercepted by its operatives alongside personnel of the Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at the Lagos airport on Monday for travelling with a drone without the required authorisation.
The Service said its actions were in line with regulations issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser governing the acquisition and use of drones, stressing that investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Comments