The founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Fisayo Soyombo has revealed why he doesn’t trust any public institution in Nigeria.
Soyombo revealed this on Saturday during an interview on Arise Television, following his arrest and detention by the Nigerian Army for three days in Port Harcourt, Rivers State before he was released on Friday.
The investigative journalist explained that everything he told the army during interrogation was leaked to suspected oil thieves who also told him the exact things he said.
“How can you grill me at the 6 division and everything I told you, the illegal bunkerers were telling me. Every single thing,” he said.
“The real grouse of the army is that one, I did not carry them along. I would not deny that I have low trust for Nigerian public institutions.”
The FIJ founder added he does not trust any public institution in Nigeria dur to his ordeal investigating stories as an undercover journalist.
“A small two-minute diversion. Last year, I did an undercover investigation on an orphanage selling babies. I bought a new born baby for N2 million. I took the baby to NAPTIP, I looked after that baby,” he said.
“After I handed over the baby to NAPTIP, I sent a representative to go there every month. Her birthday, we bought a gift, Christmas same. We woke up one day and NAPTIP shut the door on us.”
The Nigerian Army had confirmed the arrest of the investigative journalist at an illegal oil bunkering site in the Niger Delta region.
The arrest, which sparked widespread concern and condemnation, occurred during an operation against oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The confirmation followed public outcry over Soyombo’s detention, with the FIJ reporting on X (formerly Twitter) that Soyombo had been in Army custody for three days.
