The Department of State Services, DSS, has confirmed the detention of a journalist covering the activities of the president candidate of the African Action Congress, Zainab Sodiq at its National Headquarters in Abuja, citing alleged violation of drone regulations.
But the AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, says the arrest is politically motivated.
In a statement signed by Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, on Wednesday, the DSS said Sodiq was intercepted on July 6, 2026 by FAAN AVSEC and DSS operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV, while attempting to board a flight to Abuja without an End User Certificate, EUC.
According to the Service, the interception was in line with extant regulations from the Office of the National Security Adviser which place restrictions on the acquisition and use of drones.
The statement added that when confronted, Sodiq admitted to not having the required documents.
The DSS said she was allowed to board her scheduled flight due to a prior engagement in Abuja, but was directed to report on Wednesday, July 8, for continuation of investigation.
It added that “investigation has commenced in line with NSA rules which empower the Service to impound and sanction individuals operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems without authorization, citing global and domestic security concerns including privacy breaches and safety.”
However, Sowore, in a statement late Wednesday, dismissed the DSS explanation as a “hurriedly put together fable.”
He claimed Sodiq was targeted because she works with him and that the DJI Mavic Air drone in question belongs to him personally.
Sowore alleged that after DSS personnel seized the drone from Sodiq at the Lagos domestic terminal, he spoke with officers and explained that she was a journalist covering his activities.
He said he advised her to leave the drone and travel to Abuja because she was carrying his international passport, which was to be deposited in court as part of the bail conditions in the going alleged cyberbulling case against him.
According to him, the real objective was to prevent Sodiq from reaching Abuja with the passport, frustrate the perfection of his bail, and create grounds to return him to Kuje prison.
“She traveled by Bolt to meet DSS personnel at their office. According to the account available to us, when she arrived, she was taken into custody so abruptly that she was not even allowed to settle the fare with her Bolt driver,” Sowore stated.
He further claimed that about two hours after Sodiq became unreachable, DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi acknowledged to their lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, that she was in custody for “routine screening” over the drone, and asked that the lawyer proceed to the headquarters.
Sowore alleged that the narrative later changed after he posted about the detention on social media.
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