Department of State Services (DSS) has said journalist Zainab Sodiq, who covers the activities of presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, was arrested over alleged possession of a drone without the required authorisation documents.
The DSS made this known in a statement issued on Thursday by its Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie.
The agency said Sodiq was intercepted on July 6 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, by operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) and DSS officials.
According to the statement, Sodiq was found with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) while preparing to travel from Lagos to Abuja without an End User Certificate (EUC), a document required under existing regulations governing drone acquisition and use.
“It is to be noted that, in compliance with National Security Adviser (NSA), extant regulations, which placed restrictions on acquisition and use of drones, Sodiq was intercepted while trying to board a flight to Abuja,” the DSS stated.
The service said the journalist admitted that she did not have the required documents when questioned.
It added that she was initially allowed to board her scheduled flight due to a prior engagement in Abuja but was instructed to report on July 8 for continuation of the investigation.
The DSS said Sodiq was currently being held at its national headquarters in Abuja as investigations continued.
The agency explained that it had commenced a probe into the alleged unauthorised use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in line with regulations issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
According to the DSS, the regulations empower relevant authorities to impound drones and sanction individuals or organisations found operating them without approval.
It said the restrictions were designed to address security concerns, including possible privacy violations and threats to public safety.
Reacting to the development, Sowore alleged that the journalist was being targeted because of her professional activities.
In a post on X, he claimed that Sodiq’s detention was linked to her role covering his activities.
“DSS has just arrested Zainab Sodiq, the journalist who covers my daily activities, and detained her at its headquarters in Abuja. Her only ‘crime’ is doing her job as a journalist,” Sowore said.
The DSS, however, maintained that the arrest was related to alleged violations of regulations governing the possession and operation of drones in Nigeria.
