The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate sanction of the head of a police unit linked to the controversial arrest of an investigative journalist, following widespread outrage over the alleged use of his wife and infant child to lure him into custody.
The journalist, Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), was arrested on Monday by operatives attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit in Lagos. His detention sparked intense public criticism after details emerged that his wife, Adenike, and their nine month old baby were first detained in what critics described as an unethical and coercive tactic.
According to FIJ, Adenike and the infant were arrested in Ikorodu, Lagos, and allegedly compelled to contact Atanda under the pretence that their child was ill and required urgent medical attention. When the journalist arrived at the location, he was reportedly handcuffed and taken to the Force Headquarters in Obalende.
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FIJ’s founder and editor in chief, Fisayo Soyombo, confirmed the arrest and the family’s subsequent release in posts on X, stating that Atanda was freed shortly before midnight on Monday. He linked the arrest directly to an investigative report authored by the journalist.
The incident quickly drew condemnation from civil society actors, media organisations and activists, with concerns raised about press freedom and police overreach.
Publisher and activist Omoyele Sowore described the episode as “deeply disturbing,” accusing elements within the police of collaborating with private interests to intimidate journalists and abduct civilians. He warned that such actions risk undermining public confidence in law enforcement and the rule of law.
Responding to the backlash, Police Force spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said the IGP was angered by the incident and ordered immediate corrective action upon learning of it.
Hundeyin said Egbetokun became aware of the arrest through the International Press Institute and directed that Atanda be released without delay. He added that the IGP also ordered that the head of the unit involved be sanctioned for the conduct.
“The IGP was particularly angry that this incident occurred at a time when the Police have publicly committed to protecting press freedom and are taking concrete steps to uphold it,” Hundeyin said.
He stressed that the officer involved was not a divisional police officer, as earlier claimed by some commentators, but the head of a specialised unit, and confirmed that disciplinary measures had been initiated.
The police leadership’s intervention, however, has not fully doused concerns within the media community, with many calling for transparency around the sanctions and assurances that such tactics will not recur.
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FIJ said Atanda’s arrest was connected to an investigation into Legend Adex Immigration Consult, whose chief executive officer, Adeyemi Awoyinfa, allegedly failed to refund £15,000 collected from a UK based Nigerian in November 2023 for two certificates of sponsorship that were never delivered.
As the dust settles, the case has reignited broader questions about how security agencies engage with journalists, the limits of police power and what safeguards exist to protect investigative reporting in Nigeria.
For many observers, the episode has moved beyond one arrest, becoming a test of the police leadership’s commitment to press freedom and accountability at a time of heightened public scrutiny.
