DigiCivic Initiative has expressed deep concern over the reported arrest and detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), describing the incident as one that raises serious constitutional and human rights concerns regarding press freedom, due process and the rule of law.
According to media reports, Sodiq’s detention followed her professional investigation into issues surrounding the use and possession of drones, including compliance with End User Certificate (EUC) requirements.
While acknowledging the constitutional responsibility of Nigeria’s security agencies to safeguard national security and regulate sensitive technologies, DigiCivic Initiative stressed that such powers must always be exercised within the limits of the Constitution, the rule of law and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
“A democratic society cannot flourish where journalists face intimidation, arbitrary arrest or prolonged detention simply for carrying out their constitutional duty of gathering and disseminating information in the public interest,” the organisation stated.
DigiCivic noted that Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) guarantees the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive and impart information without interference. It further observed that Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) reinforce the protection of press freedom and the public’s right to access information.
The organisation emphasised that investigative journalism plays a vital role in promoting transparency, exposing corruption, strengthening accountability and ensuring that citizens remain informed about issues affecting governance and national development.
Without prejudging the outcome of any investigation, DigiCivic Initiative called on the relevant security and regulatory authorities to clarify:
- Whether the drones in question were lawfully imported into Nigeria;
- Whether an End User Certificate issued through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is a mandatory legal requirement for owning or operating drones in Nigeria;
- Whether all statutory licensing and national security requirements governing the importation, possession and deployment of drones have been complied with; and
- Whether the same legal standards are being applied consistently to all drone users, regardless of nationality or institutional affiliation.
The organisation observed that while drones are legitimate tools for commercial, industrial, environmental and security purposes, their regulation must remain transparent, consistent and compatible with constitutional rights.
“Legitimate national security concerns cannot become a justification for suppressing investigative journalism or discouraging public-interest reporting. Security and press freedom are not mutually exclusive; both are essential pillars of constitutional democracy,” it stated.
DigiCivic Initiative therefore called for:
- The immediate disclosure of the legal basis for the journalist’s detention and, where no lawful basis exists, her immediate release.
- Full respect for the constitutional rights of journalists during investigations involving matters of public interest.
- Transparent communication by the relevant authorities regarding the status of investigations into the reported drone possession and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
- Stronger institutional safeguards against the intimidation, harassment or arbitrary detention of journalists carrying out their lawful professional duties.
The organisation maintained that a free press is not an adversary of the State but an essential democratic institution that promotes accountability, strengthens public trust and contributes to national development through factual reporting and informed public discourse.
It urged security agencies, regulatory authorities, civil society organisations, media practitioners and the international community to uphold the principles of constitutional democracy, transparency, the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights.
