In a statement issued on Friday, July 10, 2026, Nwapa described Sodiq's detention for more than 72 hours over possession of a drone as an attack on press freedom and questioned the DSS's enforcement priorities.
Human rights activist, Francis Nwapa, has condemned the continued detention of journalist Zainab Sodiq by the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing the agency of prioritising the persecution of journalists instead of confronting terrorist groups that have repeatedly deployed drones in attacks across northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday, July 10, 2026, Nwapa described Sodiq's detention for more than 72 hours over possession of a drone as an attack on press freedom and questioned the DSS's enforcement priorities.
He directly challenged the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, demanding an explanation over the agency's handling of the case.
"The Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, owes Nigerians an explanation. If the Service insists that journalists cannot possess or operate drones without the required authorization, then Nigerians are entitled to ask a simple but fundamental question: who gave terrorists the permission to fly drones?” Nwapa said.
