Amnesty International demands immediate release of Plateau journalist allegedly arrested by military

Global non-governmental human rights organisation, Amnesty International, has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of a Plateau State-based human rights and conflict journalist, Lawrence Zongo, who was reportedly arrested on Monday, October 5, 2026.

He was allegedly arrested by the Nigerian Army after he visited a military medical facility in Jos to see his relatives who were receiving treatment for injuries they sustained in an attack in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.

According to the organisation, Zongo, who is a reporter with TruthNigeria and also a volunteer with Amnesty International, was arrested at a military hospital within the Maxwell Khobe Cantonment, Rukuba Barracks, the headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division in Jos, and has been held incommunicado since then.

The organisation said that since Zongo’s arrest and alleged unlawful detention, all efforts to gain access to him have so far been denied by the army authorities, in utter disregard for due process.

“Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the arbitrary detention of our member in Plateau State, Mr Lawrence Zongo, who has been unlawfully detained incommunicado in military detention in Jos since Monday,” the organisation said.

“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. Mr Zongo must either be handed over to civil authorities or immediately released,” it added.

Also confirming Zongo’s arrest, conflict journalist, Masara Kim Usman said his colleague had visited the medical facility to see his relatives, who were injured in an attack allegedly carried out by suspected Fulani militants, but was arrested by soldiers.

Writing on his Facebook page on Thursday, Kim said:

“The HQ Nigerian Army on Monday arrested Christian journalist and rights activist, Lawrence Zongo, at a military hospital in Jos where he had gone to visit family members attacked by armed Fulani militants the previous day.

“Zongo, a reporter with TruthNigeria and a volunteer with Amnesty International, has remained in custody without charges. Reports say military authorities are denying him access to lawyers and family.

“He had gone to the hospital at Maxwell Khobe Cantonment (Rukuba Barracks), HQ of 3 Division, to assist his cousins attacked Sunday night in Meyango, Bassa LGA. One of the victims, a first cousin, had died by the time Zongo arrived late Monday morning.

“Sources say while he was still processing the loss, soldiers arrested him and held him incommunicado. His only ‘offense,’ sources allege, was being a rights activist who visited the barracks wearing Ray-Ban glasses.”

However, the Nigerian Army has not publicly confirmed the reported arrest and detention of Zongo, nor has it given any explanation as to the circumstances that led to the purported arrest.

Calls and text messages sent to the Media Information Officer of the Nigerian Army’s 3 Division, Victor Olukoya Victor, to confirm the development went unanswered at the time of filing this report.