IGP ‘Angry’ Over Arrest of FIJ Journalist’s Wife, Nine-Month-Old  Baby, Orders Sanction of Officer

IGP ‘Angry’ Over Arrest of FIJ Journalist’s Wife, Nine-Month-Old  Baby, Orders Sanction of Officer

 

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate sanction of the head of a police unit implicated in the controversial arrest of a journalist’s wife and nine-month-old child in Lagos.

The directive followed widespread public outrage over the detention of the family of Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), in what critics described as a tactic to compel the journalist to surrender himself.

The incident occurred on Monday in Ikorodu, Lagos State, when operatives of the IGP Monitoring Unit reportedly arrested Atanda’s wife, Adenike, alongside their infant child.

According to FIJ, the officers allegedly forced Adenike to call her husband under the pretence that their child was ill and required urgent medical attention.

 

Upon Atanda’s arrival, he was reportedly handcuffed and taken to the Force Headquarters in Obalende, Lagos.
FIJ founder and editor-in-chief, Fisayo Soyombo, confirmed the arrest and subsequent release in a post on X, stating that the action was linked to an investigative report authored by Atanda.
The journalist and his family were released shortly before midnight on Monday, a development that further fuelled criticism over police conduct and concerns about press freedom in Nigeria.

Activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore condemned the police operation, describing it as “deeply disturbing.” He accused the police under Egbetokun of allegedly collaborating with private interests to intimidate civilians and undermine the rule of law, warning that such actions could erode public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.

Responding to the controversy, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, defended the IGP, stating that Egbetokun was unaware of the arrest until he was alerted by the International Press Institute (IPI).

Hundeyin said the IGP was “miffed” upon learning of the incident and immediately ordered the journalist’s release.
“He directed that the head of the unit be contacted to release the journalist immediately. He also ordered that the head of that unit be sanctioned for his conduct,” Hundeyin said.

According to him, the IGP expressed particular concern that the incident occurred at a time when the Police Force had pledged to uphold and strengthen press freedom.

Meanwhile, FIJ disclosed that Atanda’s arrest was connected to an investigative report on 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 after allegedly failing to provide two Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) as agreed.