By RismadarVoice Media
December 23, 2025
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate sanction of the head of a police unit implicated in the controversial arrest of Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
The directive followed widespread public outrage over allegations that police officers detained Atanda’s wife and nine-month-old child, allegedly used them as bait to lure the journalist into custody.
The incident reportedly occurred on Monday when operatives of the IGP Monitoring Unit arrested Atanda’s wife, Adenike, their infant at a location in Ikorodu, Lagos. According to FIJ, the officers compelled Adenike to call her husband under the pretext that their child was ill and required urgent medical attention.
When Atanda arrived at the location, he was allegedly handcuffed, 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 stemmed from an investigative report authored by Atanda. The journalist was released shortly before midnight on Monday alongside his family.
The development sparked widespread condemnation, with concerns raised about police conduct and press freedom.
Activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore described the incident as “deeply disturbing,” accusing the police under Egbetokun of collaborating with private interests to abduct civilians and undermine the rule of law. He warned that such actions could further erode public trust in the Nigeria Police Force.
Responding to the criticism on X, the Police Force spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, defended the Inspector-General, saying Egbetokun was “miffed” upon learning of the arrest through the International Press Institute (IPI).
“I was with him last night when Mojeed Musikilu of the International Press Institute reached out to me about the arrest. I promptly informed the IGP, and he was miffed. He directed that the head of the unit (not a DPO) be contacted to release the journalist immediately,” Hundeyin said.
He added that the IGP ordered both the journalist’s immediate release and disciplinary action against the head of the unit involved.
“The IGP was particularly angry that this came up at a time when the Police have pledged and are taking tangible steps to ensure press freedom. He ordered that the head of that unit be sanctioned for his conduct,” Hundeyin stated.
According to FIJ, Atanda’s arrest is connected to an investigative report on Adeyemi Awoyinfa, the chief executive officer of Legend Adex Immigration Consult, who allegedly refused to refund £15,000 collected in November 2023 from a UK-based Nigerian seeking two Certificates of Sponsorship (COS) for family friends, after failing to deliver the service.
The incident has reignited debates on police accountability, the safety of journalists in Nigeria.
