Abuja, July 10, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerian authorities to stop harassing journalists, following the detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq on July 8, stringent bail conditions placed on Secret Reporters’ Stanley Ugagbe following his forcible disappearance on July 1, and an espionage summons issued to his publisher Fejiro Oliver on July 6.

“Is it outrageous that journalist Zainab Sodiq has been jailed by intelligence agents and has seemingly been denied due process. It is also utterly punitive for Stanley Ugagbe to spend hours, every other day, needlessly reporting to the police,” said CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal. “Nigeria’s security services must focus their time and resources on the real criminals and not journalists who are keeping the public informed.”

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Ugagbe told CPJ that he was released on bail, without charge, as police continue investigating. He said he was ordered to report to the cybercrime center every two days and that the police were still examining his phone and laptop.

Ugagbe said that on July 1 he was seized by two armed men from a shared public taxi at a traffic light near his home, forced into a car with four armed men, and taken to his house. Two men accompanied him inside to retrieve his laptop, then blindfolded and handcuffed him.

The journalist told CPJ that he remained blindfolded while held overnight in a police facility, which he was unable to identify. The handcuffs were only removed at night and used to chain his leg to a chair while he lay on the floor, Ugagbe said.

Ugagbe said he was transferred, still blindfolded, to the cybercrime center on July 2, where he developed a rash on his lower abdomen.

The second number connected to what sounded like an automated responder, which did not directly answer questions and eventually disconnected.

The third number was answered by an individual who confirmed connection to the DSS and said Sodiq’s “matter” was “under investigation” and there was “nothing to be worried about,” before adding they were “not in the right position to discuss this.” The individual declined to immediately connect CPJ with someone who could comment further on the case, or to specify when someone else would be available to speak.