Meta Restores FIJ Facebook Page After Admitting ‘Mistake’ Amid Rising Pressure from Nigerian Authorities
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has reinstated the Facebook page of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism and Social Justice (FIJ), admitting that its previous takedown was an error. The page was initially suspended on Sunday, with Meta citing “cybersecurity” concerns. In a message to FIJ on Friday, the tech giant clarified, “We found that our technology made a mistake suspending your page. Our priority is keeping the community safe and respectful, so sometimes we have to take precautions.”
FIJ founder, Fisayo Soyombo, announced the restoration on his personal Facebook page, highlighting the platform’s acknowledgment of the mistake. He described the takedown as part of broader challenges the organization faces, emphasizing FIJ’s commitment to investigative reporting despite mounting pressures from authorities. “Meta has reinstated FIJ Nigeria, claiming the takedown was a mistake,” Soyombo wrote, drawing attention to the fragile state of press freedom in the country.
The Foundation had previously rejected Meta’s cybersecurity claim, filing an appeal and insisting that the platform’s rules did not justify the suspension. The incident coincided with other disruptions to FIJ’s operations, including a cyberattack traced to the headquarters of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) that forced its website offline on August 21. FIJ described these actions as attempts to stifle its investigative reporting.
Tensions escalated further this week when Nigerian authorities increased scrutiny of FIJ staff. Senior reporter Sodeeq Atanda was detained and questioned for 11 hours before being released. Shortly after, Soyombo received a police summons connected to ongoing investigations into FIJ’s reporting. The summons, signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Musa Hadi of Ekiti State’s Intelligence Department, instructs Soyombo to appear on September 15.
The police investigation appears linked to FIJ’s exposé on allegations of sexual misconduct against Prof. Abayomi Fasina, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), who is currently on leave. The restoration of FIJ’s Facebook page comes amid growing concern over press freedom and the safety of investigative journalists in Nigeria, highlighting the delicate balance between technology oversight and civil liberties.
source: leadership