The Yoruba Union has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of journalist Zainab Sodiq from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing the secret police of abandoning its constitutional mandate to serve as what it described as a political tool for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a strongly worded statement, the group condemned Sodiq’s continued detention, describing it as a dangerous assault on press freedom, democracy and the constitutional rights of Nigerians. It alleged that the DSS was increasingly being deployed to intimidate journalists, activists and critics of the government rather than confronting the nation’s worsening security challenges.
The organisation maintained that the detention of the journalist had no legal justification and warned that the growing use of security agencies against dissenting voices posed a serious threat to Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
According to the union, the actions of the DSS reflect a disturbing pattern of political repression designed to silence independent journalism and discourage public scrutiny of government actions. It called on the agency to respect the rule of law by either charging Sodiq before a competent court or releasing her immediately.
The demand comes amid mounting pressure from civil society organisations, human rights advocates and opposition groups over Sodiq’s arrest. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also called for her immediate release, describing her detention as a violation of press freedom and the constitutional right to freedom of expression. SERAP urged President Tinubu to direct the DSS to end what it termed the unlawful detention of the journalist.
Similarly, the Amnesty International described the detention as a blatant violation of Nigeria’s obligations under domestic and international human rights law. The organisation demanded Sodiq’s immediate release and called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her arrest and alleged due process violations.
The African Action Congress (AAC) also accused the DSS of engaging in “state terrorism” and claimed Sodiq’s arrest was politically motivated. The party alleged that she was detained while carrying materials connected to the bail process of its presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, insisting that the drone reportedly linked to her arrest was merely a professional media tool used for journalism and election coverage.
As public criticism intensifies, the DSS has yet to provide a detailed public explanation addressing the allegations raised by rights groups and political organisations, while calls continue to grow for Sodiq’s immediate freedom and greater protection of press liberty in Nigeria.