The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq, stating that she is being investigated for allegedly operating a drone without the required authorization documents.
The development has sparked controversy after activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore accused the security agency of unlawfully detaining the journalist and called for her immediate release.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the DSS said Sodiq was intercepted on July 6, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security and DSS operatives while traveling to Abuja with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone.
According to the agency, the journalist was unable to provide an End User Certificate, a document required under Nigerian regulations governing the acquisition and operation of drones.
“The Department of State Services confirms the detention of Zainab Sodiq at its National Headquarters in Abuja. She was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on July 6, 2026, with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle while travelling to Abuja without an End User Certificate,” the statement said.
The DSS noted that Sodiq admitted she did not possess the required documentation when questioned. However, the agency said she was initially allowed to continue her journey to Abuja because of a prior engagement and was instructed to report to its headquarters for further investigation.
The service explained that its actions were in line with regulations issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser, which empower security agencies to impound drones and sanction individuals or organizations operating them without proper authorization.
According to the DSS, the investigation is driven by growing domestic and global concerns about drone operations, including security threats, privacy violations, and public safety risks.
Service investigation has commenced. This action is necessitated by global and domestic security concerns associated with the operation of drones, especially issues relating to privacy breaches and the safety of individuals, the agency stated.
The DSS further stressed its commitment to professionalism, due process, and adherence to the rule of law.
Reacting to the development, Omoyele Sowore dismissed the DSS account, insisting that Sodiq was being targeted because of her association with him rather than the drone.
Sowore claimed that the DJI Mavic Air drone in question belongs to him and has been used for media coverage of elections and other public events.
“The DJI Mavic Air drone belongs to me personally. When DSS personnel seized it from Zainab at the Lagos airport, I spoke directly with their officers and informed them that the drone was mine and that she was working as a journalist covering my activities,” he said.
The activist further alleged that the seizure of the drone was merely a pretext to obstruct the delivery of his international passport to Abuja. According to him, the passport was required to perfect bail conditions recently granted by a Federal High Court.
He claimed that after the drone was confiscated, he instructed Sodiq to continue her trip to Abuja because of the urgency of delivering the passport. However, he alleged that she was later detained after honoring an invitation from the DSS regarding the seized equipment.
Sowore also alleged that lawyers representing him contacted the Director-General of the DSS, who initially described the matter as routine screening linked to the drone.
According to him, the situation escalated after he publicly criticized the detention on social media.
We were later informed that DSS officials were unhappy that I had exposed Zainab’s detention online. Instead of addressing the legality of her detention, their concern shifted to my social media posts, he alleged.
The Take It Back Movement also condemned Sodiq’s detention, alleging that she was invited to Abuja under the pretense of retrieving her seized drone equipment before being taken into custody.
The group argued that the journalist was merely carrying out her professional responsibilities and should not face intimidation because of her work.
This is not just about Zainab Sodiq. It is about the growing use of state institutions to intimidate journalists, activists, and critics of government,” the group stated.
The movement emphasized that journalism, political reporting, and the use of media equipment should not be criminalized in a democratic society.
A journalist carrying out lawful duties is not a criminal. Covering the activities of opposition figures is not a crime. Possessing media equipment is not a crime. Reporting facts is not a crime,” the statement added.
The group called on the DSS to either release Sodiq immediately or formally charge her before a competent court if any offence has been committed.
The incident has renewed concerns among media and civil society organizations about press freedom, the regulation of drone operations, and the treatment of journalists carrying out their professional duties in Nigeria.
