The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq at its Abuja headquarters following her interception at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on 6 July 2026. She was travelling to Abuja with an unmanned aerial vehicle and could not present the End User Certificate required under Nigerian regulations for drone operation. The DSS said the action followed standard procedure guided by directives from the Office of the National Security Adviser, which authorise the seizure of drones and investigation of unlicensed operators. Sodiq acknowledged during questioning that she lacked the necessary documentation, the agency stated, but was allowed to proceed to Abuja due to prior commitments, with instructions to report for investigation on Wednesday. She did so, but was detained upon arrival.
The DSS described the move as necessary due to security concerns related to drone use, including privacy breaches and public safety risks. It maintained that the investigation is ongoing and reaffirmed its commitment to due process and the rule of law. However, activist Omoyele Sowore has challenged the narrative, claiming the drone belongs to him and was used for legitimate media coverage, including elections. He said he personally spoke with DSS personnel in Lagos after the drone was seized, clarified its purpose, and instructed Sodiq to continue to Abuja with his international passport, which was needed to meet bail conditions set by Federal High Court Justice M.G. Umar. Sowore alleged the real aim was to obstruct the bail process and return him to Kuje Prison. He added that Sodiq was detained immediately after complying with the DSS invitation, and that his legal team had contacted DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi, who initially referred to the matter as a "routine screening."
The DSS detained a journalist for carrying a drone without a permit, yet allowed her to travel to Abuja before taking her into custody upon arrival. Sowore claims the drone was his and used for election reporting, and that the real target was preventing him from fulfilling bail conditions. The timing of the detention—after Sodiq reached Abuja with the passport—raises questions about whether the drone violation was the true motive. If the device was for media work linked to a court case, the agency's actions appear less about regulation and more about control.
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