The International Press Centre (IPC), acting through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, has issued a scathing condemnation following the arrest and detention of Mrs. Adenike Atanda and her nine-month-old child. Mrs. Atanda is the wife of Sodeeq Atanda, an investigative reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
The incident, which occurred on Monday, the 22nd of December, 2025, involved operatives of the Nigeria Police Force who reportedly tracked the family to their residence in the Owutu area of Ikorodu.
According to reports gathered by the IPC-SPJ Hub, the mother and infant were held at a police station for over five hours. The IPC alleges that the detention was a tactical maneuver intended to lure Sodeeq Atanda into police custody.
The Hub further alleged that Mrs. Atanda was pressured by security agents to deceive her husband under duress.
“IPC further claimed that Mrs Atanda was coerced into calling her husband to falsely inform him that their child was ill and hospitalised.”
The Executive Director of the IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, reacted to the development with grave concern, noting that the targeting of family members marks a dangerous regression in Nigeria’s democratic journey. He compared the current situation to the repressive methods once used by military juntas to suppress investigative reporting.
In a formal statement, Arogundade remarked: “This is a stark reminder of the darker period of military rule when security agents arrested the wife and infant child of journalists to force compliance. Such actions have no place in a democratic society.”
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The SPJ Hub emphasized that the primary duty of law enforcement the protection of lives and property is undermined when the police utilize civilians, especially infants, as leverage in investigations. The IPC maintains that these recurring actions are part of a broader pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing the media by instilling fear within their domestic circles.
The IPC concluded that these tactics represent a direct threat to the safety of investigative reporters across the country.
“The IPC said the repeated actions by the police pose a serious threat to the safety of the journalist and reflect an ongoing attempt to intimidate members of the press, including targeting their family members.”