DSS detains journalist over drone permit

The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq over the alleged operation of a drone without the required authorisation, while human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and the Take It Back Movement insist the action is politically motivated.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the DSS, which said Sodiq is being investigated after she was found with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

According to the agency, the journalist was intercepted on July 6 by officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria’s Aviation Security (FAAN AVSEC) and DSS operatives while travelling to Abuja.

“The Department of State Services confirms detention of one Zainab Sodiq at its National Headquarters, Abuja. Subject was intercepted by FAAN AVSEC and operatives of DSS at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on July 6, 2026, with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle en route Abuja from MMIA without an End User Certificate,” the statement read.

The service said Sodiq admitted she did not possess the required End User Certificate, which is compulsory under existing regulations governing the acquisition and operation of drones in Nigeria.

It explained that although she was allowed to continue her journey to Abuja because she had an earlier engagement, she was instructed to report to the DSS headquarters on Wednesday to continue the investigation.

The agency maintained that its actions were consistent with directives issued by the Office of the National Security Adviser, which empower security authorities to seize drones and sanction individuals or organisations operating them without proper authorisation.

“Service investigation has commenced. This action is necessitated by global and domestic security concerns associated with operation of drones, especially issues of privacy breaches and safety of individuals,” the DSS stated.

It added that it remains committed to carrying out its responsibilities “with professionalism and adherence to the rule of law.”

However, Sowore dismissed the agency’s explanation, insisting the seized drone belonged to him and that Sodiq was only using it in her capacity as a journalist covering his activities.

“The DJI Mavic Air drone in question belongs personally to me,” Sowore said.

“When DSS personnel at the Murtala Muhammed Airport domestic terminal seized it from Zainab on Monday on her way to Abuja, I personally spoke with their personnel in Lagos.

“I explained that the drone was mine, that Zainab was a journalist covering my activities, and that it was a commercial media drone I had used to cover elections and other public events.”

Sowore alleged that the seizure of the drone was merely a pretext, claiming the real intention was to stop Sodiq from delivering his international passport to Abuja to facilitate the perfection of his bail granted by the Federal High Court.

“The real objective was to prevent Zainab from reaching Abuja with my international passport, frustrate the perfection of my bail, and create an excuse to send me back to the overcrowded Kuje Prison,” he alleged.

He further claimed that after complying with an invitation to the DSS office in Abuja over the seized equipment, Sodiq was taken into custody immediately upon arrival.

Sowore also alleged that lawyers acting on his behalf initially received assurances from the DSS leadership that the matter involved only routine screening, but that the situation changed after he publicised the detention.

“We were later told that the DSS leadership was angry because I had publicly exposed Zainab’s unlawful detention via social media posts.

“Instead of addressing the legality of holding a Nigerian citizen, the concern of Tosin Ajayi became that I had posted about it on social media,” he claimed.

The Take It Back Movement also condemned the detention, accusing the security agency of targeting the journalist because of her professional relationship with Sowore.

The group maintained that journalism should not be criminalised, stressing that reporting on opposition figures and carrying media equipment are lawful activities.

“A journalist carrying out her lawful duty is not a criminal. Covering the activities of an opposition figure is not a crime. Possessing media equipment is not a crime. Asking questions is not a crime. Reporting the truth is not a crime,” the movement said.

It urged the DSS to either release Sodiq without delay or formally charge her before a court of competent jurisdiction if it believes she has committed an offence.