The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate sanction of the head of a police unit implicated in the arrest of Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
The directive followed widespread public outrage over the alleged detention of the journalist’s wife and nine-month-old child, reportedly used as bait to lure him.
The incident occurred on Monday when officers attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit allegedly detained Atanda’s wife, Adenike, and their infant in Ikorodu, Lagos.
According to FIJ, the officers compelled Adenike to place a call to her husband under the pretext that their child was ill and required urgent medical attention. When Atanda arrived, he was reportedly handcuffed and taken to the Force Headquarters in Obalende.
FIJ founder and editor-in-chief, Fisayo Soyombo, confirmed the arrest and subsequent release in a post on X, stating that the incident was connected to an investigative report authored by Atanda. The journalist was released shortly before midnight on Monday alongside his family, a development that intensified public debate about police conduct and press freedom.
Activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore condemned the police tactics as “deeply disturbing,” accusing the force under Egbetokun of collaborating with private interests to abduct civilians and undermine law and order. He said the episode highlighted systemic problems within the Nigeria Police Force, warning that such actions could further erode public trust.
Responding on X, Police Force spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin defended the IGP, saying Egbetokun was “miffed” after learning of the arrest through the International Press Institute (IPI).
“In as much as you might want your depiction of the IGP to be true, it isn’t. I was with him last night when Mojeed Musikilu of the International Press Institute reached out to me about the arrest. I promptly informed the IGP, and he was miffed. You might choose to believe I am making this up, but it is the truth.
“He directed that the head of the unit (not a DPO as you claimed) be contacted to release the journalist immediately. I updated Mojeed accordingly,” Hundeyin said.
Hundeyin stressed that the IGP not only ordered Atanda’s immediate release but also directed that the head of the unit be sanctioned.
“The IGP was particularly angry that this came up at a time when the Police had pledged and are taking tangible steps to ensure press freedom. He equally ordered that the head of that unit be sanctioned for his conduct.
“IGP Egbetokun does not want and would not condone any setback to our support for press freedom,” Hundeyin added.
Meanwhile, FIJ said the arrest stemmed from an investigation into allegations that Adeyemi Awoyinfa, chief executive officer of Legend Adex Immigration Consult, failed to refund £15,000 collected in November 2023 from a UK-based Nigerian seeking two certificates of sponsorship (CoS) for friends after the services were not delivered.