Lawrence Zongo, a journalist for TruthNigeria and a volunteer reporter with Amnesty International Nigeria, was arrested by the Nigerian Army on October 5, 2026, at a military medical facility in Jos, Plateau State.
Zongo, who is also a human rights defender, had reportedly visited the facility to check on relatives receiving treatment for injuries sustained during an attack in Bassa Local Government Area the previous night. However, he was arrested by military personnel at the facility and taken into custody at the barracks.
According to Amnesty International Nigeria in an X post on October 9, Zongo has since been held incommunicado without charge.
The organisation also reported that repeated requests for access to him have been denied by the military authorities, raising concerns about his continued detention, access to legal representation, and the apparent disregard for due process.
The circumstances surrounding Zongo’s arrest remain unclear, as the Nigerian Army has yet to state the grounds for his arrest.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) calls on the Nigerian Army to immediately and unconditionally release Lawrence Zongo if there is no lawful basis for his detention or, if there are legitimate grounds for his arrest, promptly charge him before a competent court and guarantee his access to legal representation, family members, and all due process protections.
