The Nigerian Army has clarified its position on the recent arrest and detention of Plateau State-based human rights and conflict journalist Lawrence Zongo.
The journalist was reportedly arrested on Monday, October 5,
2026, after allegedly visiting a military medical facility in Jos to see
relatives who were receiving treatment for injuries sustained in an attack in
Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
Global non-governmental human rights organisation, Amnesty
International raised the alarm in a statement on Wednesday, demanding the
immediate and unconditional release of Zongo, who is also a volunteer reporter
with the organisation.
According to Amnesty International, Zongo was arrested at a
military hospital within the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba Barracks, the
headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division in Jos, while visiting his
relatives, who were receiving treatment following the attack. The organisation
said he had been held incommunicado since then.
The organisation noted that since Zongo’s arrest and alleged
unlawful detention, all efforts to gain access to him had been denied by the
Army authorities, in utter disregard for due process.
“Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the arbitrary
detention of our member in Plateau State, Mr Lawrence Zongo, who has been
unlawfully detained incommunicado in military detention in Jos since Monday. Mr
Zongo must either be handed over to civil authorities or immediately released,”
the organisation said.
However, reacting to the controversy surrounding the
journalist’s arrest, the Army, in a statement on Friday, said Zongo was
arrested after gaining unauthorised access to the military facility without
proper clearance from the relevant authorities.
The Army also dismissed insinuations that Zongo was released
following pressure from various quarters, insisting that it was not under any
pressure to release the journalist.
In the statement, which was shared on social media by
conflict journalist Masara Kim Usman, the Army acknowledged that Zongo was
arrested after gaining access to a restricted military facility without proper
clearance while wearing Meta glasses, which the military considered a security
breach.
Writing about Zongo’s release, Kim said: “The pressure from
within was for Lawrence to be charged and prosecuted for espionage.
“His eventual release was secured following rigorous,
behind-the-scenes interventions, including those by youth leaders such as
Dalyop Solomon Mwantiri Mandiks and Ezekiel Bini, who testified and appealed on
his behalf, with a commitment to produce him whenever required for further
investigation.
“Lawrence was arrested on Monday, October 5, after he
visited the military hospital at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment. According to him, he
had gone to see relatives who were admitted after sustaining injuries in an
attack the previous day.
“However, without clearance from the Army authorities, he
walked into the restricted Army headquarters area wearing his Meta glasses and
proceeded towards the hospital. When questioned, he identified himself as a
volunteer with Amnesty International who had come to see his relatives.
“But when military police at the facility checked with the
patients in the hospital, no one claimed to know him. That marked the beginning
of his ordeal.
“It is important to note that the Nigerian military has had
a series of difficult experiences with AI in the past. And here was its
representative inside a restricted facility — reportedly facing terror threats
— wearing what appeared to be a spy camera and, according to preliminary
reports, claiming relatives who could not be verified. He will clarify these
points himself in due course.
“What is worth noting for now is that, regardless of whether
Lawrence had legitimate reasons to be at the facility, the circumstances of his
arrest were different from those of any other human rights case we have seen.
“Instead
of pursuing dialogue and negotiation, Amnesty International issued threats,
which caused the Army authorities to tighten their hold on the case and move
towards prosecution.
“Lawrence was scheduled to be transferred to Abuja on
October 9. However, following interventions by various groups and individuals
working behind the scenes, he was released on the condition that the
investigation into his claims would continue and that he might be required for
further investigation at any time.
“This clarification has become necessary to correct the
impression that he was released after days of pressure. This is particularly
important so that his already precarious situation is not worsened.”
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