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BREAKING: Why we arrested, detained Nigerian journalist Adejuwon Soyinka – SSS

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The SSS arrested and detained Mr Soyinka at the airport in Lagos on his arrival in Nigeria from the United Kingdom early Sunday morning.

The State Security Service (SSS) has given the reason for arresting a Nigerian journalist, Adejuwon Soyinka, early on Sunday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that SSS operatives arrested Mr Soyinka, who is the West African Regional Editor of the Conversation Africa, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 5.40 a.m. on Sunday, shortly after he arrived in Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom.

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The reason for his arrest was not immediately known.

SSS spokesperson, Peter Ifunnaya, also told PREMIUM TIMES that he was not aware of the arrest and detention of Mr Soyinka, the pioneer Editor of the BBC Pidgin Service

However, Mr Ifunnaya has said in an update he shared with PREMIUM TIMES that the SSS “intercepted” the journalist based on a request from another government agency.

We are working on Adejuwon Soyinka’s case,” he confirmed in a text message to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday.

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But he did not provide the identity of the agency on whose behalf, he said, the arrest was carried out.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that, after his arrest, the journalist was driven from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to the SSS headquarters annex in Lagos.

An SSS source told this newspaper that that agency was still trying to reach out to the agency that requested his interception for further action.

The source said, in the event that the SSS is unable to promptly communicate with the agency requesting the arrest, the journalist would be released and asked to report back on Monday.

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Initially, the award-winning journalist’s colleagues said they could not contact him as messages and calls to his phone have been unanswered.

The arrest comes about two weeks after the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests during which the SSS and the police operatives harassed and fired tear gas and live ammunition at journalists and peaceful protesters.

Some peaceful protesters arrested in their homes are still being held in custody, in an extensive government clampdown that is now targeting vocal protesters and organisers of the demonstrations.

Mr Soyinka’s arrest is the latest episode that mirrors the continued deterioration of press freedom in Nigeria.

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Insecurity! Bandits Ask For Additional N44m, 10 Motorcycles After Collecting N16m Ransom

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The bandits who kidnapped the Head of the Zamfara State Office of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Alh. Bashir Aliyu Abara Gummi, are demanding an additional N44m ransom to release him after collecting N16m from his family.

Gummi was abducted in October 2024 along Funtua-Gusau Road while travelling to Abuja to represent the Zamfara State Government at a meeting.

The bandits opened fire at moving vehicles, k!lling two persons before kidnapping the coordinator and scores of other travellers.

It was gathered that his family managed to gather N16,000,000 ransom which the kidnappers accepted but refused to release him.

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According to a source, they are now demanding a new ransom of N44,000,000, along with 10 motorcycles.

“We implore the State Government to take immediate action to save this important individual, as the kidnappers have set a deadline of Thursday, February 6, 2025, which was yesterday”, the family source added.

Meanwhile, the bandits have released a video of the victim, pleading for help.

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Nigeria Customs Imposes 4% Charge On FOB Imports

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A 4% charge has been placed on Free On-Board (FOB) value of imports by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

This was announced by the NCS spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Maiwada noted that the directive was in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.

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“In line with the provisions of Section 18 (1) of NCSA 2023, the NCS is implementing a 4 per cent charge on the Free On-Board (FOB) value of imports.

“The FOB charge, which is calculated based on the value of imported goods, including cost of goods and transportation expenses incurred up to the port of loading, is essential to driving the effective operation of the service.

“Furthermore, the NCS acknowledges concerns raised by stakeholders over the sustained collection of 1 per cent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) fee.

“It is a regulatory charge imposed for funding Nigeria’s Destination Inspection Scheme alongside the 4 per cent FOB charge.

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As a responsive government agency, the service wishes to assure the general public that extensive consultation is ongoing with the Federal Ministry of Finance to address all agitations raised by our esteemed stakeholders, “ he said.

He urged all stakeholders to comply with the directive, which was conceived after extensive consultation with relevant stakeholders and organisations.

“All stakeholders are urged to support this legally binding initiative.

“As the measures introduced in alignment with the NCSA 2023 reflects a balanced approach born out of extensive consultations with industry players, importers, and regulatory bodies,” he said.

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US aviation authorities panic as plane goes missing midair

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US authorities are looking for a small plane carrying 10 people that has been reported missing in the state of Alaska.

The US Coast Guard for the Alaska region said a Cessna Caravan craft was 12 miles (19km) offshore on a flight from Unalakleet to Nome when “its position was lost”.

The two cities are some 146 miles from each other across the Norton Sound, an inlet of the Bering Sea on Alaska’s western coast.

Search and rescue crews “are working to get to the last known coordinates” of the flight, state officials said in a statement.

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They said they had been notified of an “overdue” aircraft operated by the airline Bering Air at 16:00 local time on Thursday (01:00 GMT).

The 10 people on board comprised nine passengers and a pilot, the update from the Alaska Department of Public Safety said. There was no information immediately available about who was on board.

The volunteer fire department in the landing city Nome said the pilot had told air traffic controllers that “he intended to enter a holding pattern while waiting for the runway to be cleared”.

David Olson, director of operations for Bering Air, was quoted by Sun UK as saying that the aircraft left an airstrip in Unalakleet at 2:37 pm before officials lost all contact less than an hour later.

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It was 12 miles offshore when it was last sighted, according to the US Coast Guard.

Nome Volunteer Fire Department said in a statement: “We are currently responding to a report of a missing Bering Air caravan.

“We are doing an active ground search from Nome and from White Mountain.

“Due to weather and visibility, we are limited on air search at the current time.

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“National Guard, Coast Guard, and Troopers have been notified and are active in the search.”

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