LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A Nigerian Journalist and Editor for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been labelled a ‘Jihadist’ and currently being held at the Commisseria Central, Parakou Police Station, Republic of Benin.
The founder of the FIJ, Fisayo Soyombo, made the disclosure via his X handle earlier today, stating that the journalist has been denied freedom, food and water for four consecutive days.
The post read, “The police in Benin Republic, governed by @PresidenceBenin @PatriceTalonPR @GouvbeninBenin, have arrested @AF_Damilola, editor of @fijnigeria, denying him food and water, and holding him incommunicado for at least 4 straight days.
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“They’ve labelled him a “jihadist” despite finding no weapon or ammunition on him.
“Ayeni was arrested at Pendjari National Park while on the second leg of a Nigeria-Benin environmental journalism report.
“He is a journalist — not a jihadist,” Soyombo added.
The foundation reports that Ayeni was on a trip to the Republic of Benin for the second leg of a Nigeria-Benin environmental journalism report, when the authorities seized him.
On Thursday, 31 August, FIJ had received a distress text from Ayeni but it was deleted within seconds of delivery on one of its communication channels. The text read, “I have just been arrested.”