According to FIJ, Adenike and her child were released on Monday evening, shortly after police operatives arrested her husband, who was later freed.
By Titilope Adako
The Nigeria Police Force has released Adenike Atanda, wife of senior investigative reporter Sodeeq Atanda of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), following her detention alongside their nine-month-old baby in the Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
According to FIJ, Adenike and her child were released on Monday evening, shortly after police operatives arrested her husband, who was later freed.
FIJ reported that Adenike and the baby were initially taken to a police station in Owutu, where they were held for several hours before officers allegedly instructed her to contact her husband.
“When they realised my husband was no longer far from the house, the policemen drove me and my baby to a street not far from our home. And when they saw him, they handcuffed him and took him away. That was when they released my baby and me,” Adenike told FIJ.
Atanda was reportedly taken from the area to the Force Headquarters annexe in Obalende, Lagos, where he was detained for several hours before his eventual release just before midnight.
FIJ linked the incident to an earlier attempt to invite Atanda for questioning.
On November 26, a person identified as ‘Omo Eleniyan’, claiming to be attached to the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit, Lagos Annexe, contacted the journalist via WhatsApp.
“I’m a police officer attached to the IGP Monitoring Unit, Lagos Annexe. An approved petition was referred to my department from the office of the Inspector-General of Police for further investigation, and your name has been mentioned and alleged. That was why you have been invited, sir. Thanks for cooperation and understanding,” the message read.
Atanda responded by providing FIJ’s official email address and requested that any formal invitation be sent through that channel.
The sender reportedly replied, “The invitation is for you, not for the organisation.”
When Atanda insisted that communication should go through FIJ, the sender said, “Alright, sir. No problem.”
FIJ said no further communication was received until Monday evening, when Adenike and the couple’s infant were detained.
As of press time, the Lagos State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the detention and release.
However, in response to a text message from a FIJ reporter, SP Abimbola Adebisi, PPRO of the Lagos State Command, said, “A reporter from FIJ called last night in this regard, and he said at FHQ, I am yet to get facts on this. I’m still trying to reach FHQ Annexe.”
KoikiMedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep
Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE