The Nigerian Army has said that the arrest of investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo was in connection with oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and illegal oil connections in the Niger Delta region.
Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lt-Col. Danjuma Danjuma in a statement issued Friday expressed concern over allegations circulating on social media that it detained an investigative journalist in Port Harcourt.
He added that wehile the Division does not typically engage with the purveyors of falsehoods, it was necessary to set the record straight.
Danjuma noted: “As part of its intensified operations against illegal oil bunkering, the 6 Division Nigerian Army has recorded significant successes.
“Recent intelligence uncovered the activities of a notorious gang involved in pipeline vandalism and illegal oil connections in the region.
“In a carefully planned operation, troops tracked the suspects to an illegal oil bunkering site. During the operation, multiple arrests were made, including that of Mr Fisayo Soyombo, who was found at the scene.
“The suspects, including Mr Soyombo, are currently undergoing preliminary investigations to determine their level of involvement in the illegal activities.
“His arrest is directly linked to the ongoing anti-oil theft operations in the region, and any claims suggesting otherwise are baseless.”
Danjuma stressed that the Division strongly urged media outlets to verify the accuracy of their reports before disseminating information to the public.