The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of journalist Zainab Sodiq over alleged possession of a drone without the required documentation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the agency’s Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, said Sodiq—who covers presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore—was intercepted on July 6 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, by operatives of Aviation Security (AVSEC) in collaboration with the DSS.
According to the statement, the journalist was found in possession of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) while en route to Abuja without an End User Certificate (EUC), a mandatory document under existing regulations governing drone usage in Nigeria.
Dozie disclosed that Sodiq is currently being held at the DSS national headquarters in Abuja.
He explained that her arrest was in line with extant regulations issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which impose strict controls on the acquisition and operation of drones.
“When confronted, she admitted to not being in possession of the required documents,” the statement noted.
The DSS further revealed that Sodiq had initially been allowed to board her flight to Abuja due to a prior engagement but was instructed to report on July 8 for the continuation of the investigation, after which she was taken into custody.
The agency added that it has commenced a full investigation into the unauthorised use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), stressing that current regulations empower authorities to impound and sanction individuals or organisations operating drones without proper approval.
It justified the enforcement action by citing rising global and domestic security concerns, including risks related to privacy violations and public safety.
Reacting via social media platform X, Omoyele Sowore described the arrest as unjustified, alleging that the journalist was being targeted for simply carrying out her professional duties.
“DSS has just arrested Zainab Sodiq, the journalist who covers my daily activities, and detained her at its headquarters in Abuja. Her only ‘crime’ is doing her job as a journalist,” he said.