The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate sanction of the head of a police unit implicated in the controversial arrest of Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.

The directive follows public outcry over the detention of the journalist’s wife and nine-month-old child, allegedly used as bait to lure him.

The incident occurred on Monday when officers from the IGP Monitoring Unit reportedly detained Atanda’s wife, Adenike, and their infant at a location in Ikorodu, Lagos.

According to FIJ, the police compelled Adenike to call her husband under the pretence that their child was ill and needed hospital attention.

When Atanda arrived, he was handcuffed and taken to the Force Headquarters in Obalende.

FIJ founder and editor-in-chief, Fisayo Soyombo, confirmed the arrest and subsequent release on X, stating that the arrest stemmed from an investigative report by Atanda.

Atanda was released shortly before midnight on Monday along with his family, sparking public outrage over police conduct and press freedom.

Activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore criticised the police tactics as “deeply disturbing,” accusing the force under Egbetokun of collaborating with private interests to abduct civilians and undermine law and order. He said the episode exemplified systemic issues within the Nigeria Police Force, potentially eroding public trust.

Reacting on X, Police Force spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin defended the IGP, stating that Egbetokun was “miffed” upon learning of the arrest through the International Press Institute (IPI).

“In as much as you might want your depiction of the IGP to be true, it isn’t. I was with him last night when Mojeed Musikilu of the International Press Institute reached out to me about the arrest. I promptly informed the IGP, and he was miffed. You might choose to believe I am making this up, but it is the truth.

“He directed that the head of the unit (not a DPO as you claimed) be contacted to release the journalist immediately. I updated Mojeed accordingly,” Hundeyin said.

He emphasized that the IGP ordered the journalist’s immediate release and sanctioned the unit head.

“The IGP was particularly angry that this came up at a time when the Police had pledged and are taking tangible steps to ensure press freedom. He equally ordered that the head of that unit be sanctioned for his conduct.

“IGP Egbetokun does not want and would not condone any setback to our support for press freedom,” Hundeyin added.

Meanwhile, FIJ said the journalist’s arrest is because of a story on how Adeyemi Awoyinfa, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Legend Adex Immigration Consult, refused to refund £15,000 he collected in November 2023 from a UK-based Nigerian who wanted two certificates of sponsorship (CoS) for two of his family friends, after failing to deliver.