Army allegedly detains Plateau human rights defender

A Plateau State-based human rights defender and conflict reporter, Lawrence Zongo, has reportedly been arrested after he visited a military medical facility in Jos to see relatives injured in an attack in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Zongo was allegedly taken into custody on Monday at the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba Barracks, which houses the headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division in Jos, according to sources familiar with the incident.

The sources said Mr Zongo had gone to the facility after relatives were attacked in Miango, Bassa LGA, on Sunday night.

One of his first cousins was reportedly among those injured and later died from injuries sustained in the attack, the sources said.

The sources alleged that soldiers arrested Mr Zongo while he was at the facility and that he had remained in custody without being formally charged.

They also alleged that he had been denied access to his lawyers and family members.

The claims could not be independently verified as of Wednesday afternoon.

Army response

PREMIUM TIMES contacted the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division, Victor Olukoya Victor, to verify the reported detention.

Mr Olukoya said he was unaware of the development and asked our reporter to call back, saying he was not in a convenient place to speak at the time.

Our reporter subsequently sent him text messages, but he did not respond as of the time of filing this report.

Mr Zongo has for years documented insecurity and alleged human rights abuses in Plateau State.

He has worked as a conflict reporter and human rights documenter, including with TruthNigeria, and as a volunteer with Amnesty International.

His reporting has focused extensively on violence and its impact on communities in Plateau, including attacks in Bassa and other parts of the state.

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A separate report published on Wednesday also alleged that Mr Zongo had been detained, identifying him as a human rights defender and conflict documenter.

That report also alleged that Zongo was wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses when he visited the military facility and suggested that this may have contributed to his detention.

However, that claim could not be independently verified, and no official statement links the alleged detention to the glasses.

The circumstances surrounding the reported detention remain unclear.

The Nigerian Army has not publicly confirmed the reported detention or explained any security action against Mr Zongo.