Popular investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, has raised the alarm over alleged plans by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to arrest him.
Soyombo, who made this known in a post via his X handle on Monday, alleged that the Customs Service is making the plans to arrest him in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian military.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSoyombo, who is the founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), alleged that some officers of the NCS have either have been detailed to either bribe or take him down.
He said: “Until now, all Customs officers tried to do was either bribe or kill me. Twice this year, I have been warned about threats by your men to either ‘take me down’ or ‘execute’ me.”
On the plot to arrest him, Soyombo said that would be the first time for Customs to do such.
He asserted that the plot to arrest him comes after a motion moved by the House of Representatives last week to probe the complicity of Customs in smuggling, following several months of his exposition of illegal activities occuring within the organisation.”
He said the Nigeria Customs Service should be held responsible if he goes missing. “I am by this tweet holding you responsible for my safety. Should I go missing, Nigerians now know that I am with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),” Soyombo concluded.
FIJ had in February 2024, released an undercover investigation and subsequently, a documentary done by Soyombo which implicated Customs in the act of smuggling.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.