Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered disciplinary action against the head of the police unit involved in the arrest of Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), following widespread criticism of the officers’ conduct.

The directive came after reports that operatives from the IGP Monitoring Unit allegedly detained Atanda’s wife, Adenike, and their nine-month-old baby in Ikorodu, Lagos, in an attempt to lure the journalist.

The incident occurred on Monday when police officers reportedly held the woman and her infant at the Owutu Police Station and compelled her to call her husband, claiming their baby was seriously ill and required urgent medical attention.

Atanda was said to have rushed to the location, where he was immediately handcuffed and later transferred to the Force Headquarters Annexe in Obalende, Lagos.

The arrest triggered public outrage after Fisayo Soyombo, founder of FIJ, disclosed the development on social media, linking it to one of Atanda’s recent investigative reports.

Atanda, his wife, and their child were eventually released late Monday night following interventions from various quarters, including the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria.

Confirming the development, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said the Inspector-General was displeased upon being briefed on the matter and promptly ordered Atanda’s release.

Hundeyin added that the head of the unit responsible for the arrest would face sanctions, noting that the IGP was particularly angered by the incident coming at a time when the police had publicly committed to protecting press freedom and upholding journalists’ rights.