Outrage As Police Free FIJ Reporter’s Wife, 9-Month-Old Baby After Lagos Detention

The Nigeria Police Force has released Adenike Atanda, wife of a senior investigative journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), along with her nine-month-old baby, following their detention in the Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

FIJ confirmed that Adenike and her infant regained their freedom on Monday evening, shortly after police officers arrested her husband, Sodeeq Atanda, who was also later released.

According to the organisation, Adenike and the baby were taken to a police station in Owutu, where they were held for several hours. During the detention, officers allegedly instructed her to contact her husband.

In her account, Adenike said she was told to call Atanda and falsely claim that their child was sick and had been taken to the hospital.

“When they realised my husband was already close to the house, the policemen drove me and my baby to a street near our home. Once they saw him, they handcuffed and took him away. That was when they released my baby and me,” she said.

Atanda was subsequently taken to the Force Headquarters Annex in Obalende, Lagos, where he was held for several hours before being released shortly before midnight.

Alleged Prior Attempt to Invite Journalist

FIJ linked the incident to an earlier attempt to invite Atanda for questioning. The organisation said that on November 26, an individual identified as “Omo Eleniyan” contacted the journalist via WhatsApp, claiming to be attached to the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters.

The message stated that a petition had been referred to the unit for investigation and that Atanda’s name was mentioned. In response, Atanda requested that any formal invitation be sent through FIJ’s official email address.

However, the sender reportedly insisted that the invitation was personal and not for the organisation. After Atanda maintained that all communication should go through FIJ, the contact ceased, with no further messages until the detention of his wife and child on Monday.

As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command had not issued an official explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest and release of Atanda’s family.

Responding to a text inquiry, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said she was yet to obtain full details from the Force Headquarters Annex.

Meanwhile, the incident has sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with many Nigerians expressing concern that the detention of a journalist and his family raises serious questions about press freedom and the conduct of law enforcement agencies.