The security agency said the journalist is being investigated over an alleged unauthorised drone, while Omoyele Sowore insists the detention is politically motivated
The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the Zainab Sodiq detention, saying the journalist is being investigated for allegedly operating an unmanned aerial vehicle without the authorisation required under Nigerian regulations.
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The confirmation followed allegations by Omoyele Sowore and the Take It Back Movement that the journalist was unlawfully detained and should be released immediately.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the DSS said Sodiq was intercepted by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Aviation Security and DSS operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on July 6, 2026, while travelling from Lagos to Abuja with an unmanned aerial vehicle.
According to the agency, the journalist was unable to produce an End User Certificate, a document it said is required under existing regulations governing the acquisition and operation of drones in Nigeria.
The DSS stated, “The Department of State Services confirms detention of one Zainab Sodiq at its National Headquarters, Abuja.
Subject was intercepted by FAAN AVSEC and operatives of DSS at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on July 6, 2026, with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle en route Abuja from MMIA without an End User Certificate.”
The security agency added that Sodiq acknowledged she did not possess the required documentation during questioning.
According to the DSS, she was nevertheless permitted to board her scheduled flight to Abuja because she had a prior engagement and was instructed to report to the agency’s headquarters on Wednesday for further investigation.
The service said the probe was being conducted in line with regulations issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser, which empower security agencies to impound drones and sanction individuals or organisations found operating them without the necessary approvals.
“Service investigation has commenced. This action is necessitated by global and domestic security concerns associated with operation of drones, especially issues of privacy breaches and safety of individuals,” the DSS said, adding that it remained committed to professionalism and the rule of law.
However, Sowore disputed the agency’s account, maintaining that the drone was not the real reason for the Zainab Sodiq detention.
The former presidential candidate said the DJI Mavic Air drone belonged to him and had previously been used to cover elections and other public events in his capacity as a journalist and activist.
“The DJI Mavic Air drone in question belongs personally to me,” Sowore said.
“When DSS personnel at the Murtala Muhammed Airport domestic terminal seized it from Zainab on Monday on her way to Abuja, I personally spoke with their personnel in Lagos.
I explained that the drone was mine, that Zainab was a journalist covering my activities, and that it was a commercial media drone I had used to cover elections and other public events.”
Sowore alleged that the seizure of the drone served as a pretext to frustrate the perfection of his bail following a recent ruling by the Federal High Court.
According to him, Sodiq had been carrying his international passport to Abuja because it was required to be deposited in court as part of the bail conditions imposed by Justice M.G. Umar.
“The real objective was to prevent Zainab from reaching Abuja with my international passport, frustrate the perfection of my bail, and create an excuse to send me back to the overcrowded Kuje Prison,” he alleged.
Sowore further claimed that after advising the journalist to leave the drone with DSS operatives and continue her journey, Sodiq later honoured an invitation to the agency’s Abuja office regarding the equipment but was taken into custody upon arrival.
He also alleged that lawyers acting on his behalf initially received assurances from DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi that the matter involved only routine screening, but that the situation changed after details of the detention were publicised on social media.
The Take It Back Movement echoed Sowore’s position, alleging that Sodiq was invited to Abuja under the impression that she would retrieve her drone equipment before being detained.
The organisation argued that the journalist was carrying out legitimate professional duties and should not face intimidation because of her work covering opposition politics.
“A journalist carrying out her lawful duty is not a criminal. Covering the activities of an opposition figure is not a crime.
Possessing media equipment is not a crime. Asking questions is not a crime. Reporting the truth is not a crime,” the group said.
It called on the DSS to either release Sodiq immediately or arraign her before a competent court if investigators believe an offence has been committed.
The case has renewed debate over the regulation of civilian drone operations in Nigeria and the balance between national security concerns and press freedom.
The Office of the National Security Adviser introduced stricter controls on drone ownership and operation in recent years, citing security, privacy and public safety considerations.
Media organisations and civil society groups, however, have consistently urged authorities to ensure that enforcement of those regulations does not impede legitimate journalistic activities or constitutional rights.
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As investigations continue, the competing accounts from the DSS, Sowore and the Take It Back Movement leave key questions unresolved, with the outcome likely to attract close attention from media advocates, legal observers and human rights organisations.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
