The executive director of the International Press Institute, Lanre Arogundade has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) after he was arrested at the airport on Thursday.

The institute confirmed Mr Arogundade’s release in a tweet.

“Mr. Arogundade @lanreipc has been released, and his Passport has been returned to him. Thank you all,” the tweet read.

The media activist was picked up on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport earlier in the day.

He had travelled to The Gambia for a training programme on conflict reporting for journalists organised by the UNESCO (Gambia), and IPI.

President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isa, said the DSS had apologised for the arrest, saying it was a case of mistaken identity.

He wrote, “I just spoke with the head of DSS at the airport through Lanre’s phone. He said it was a case of mistaken identity, and that they have no case against him. He has been released after an apology and his passport is about to be stamped for him to leave the airport.

“Lanre told me that this wasn’t the first time this was happening. I told the officer when a case of mistaken identity happens all the time, it means something is wrong.

“The Nigerian Guild of Editors totally condemns this harassment. Lanre Arogundade is doing a tremendous job in promoting media freedom in Nigeria. We are fully behind him.”

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