10 Soldiers Detained For Leaking Justice Crack's Custody Details
Nigerian Military Detains More Than 10 Soldiers Underground Over Leaks In Whistleblower Justice Crack’s Abduction Case
More than 10 Nigerian soldiers have reportedly been detained by military authorities at the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) facility amid an intensified crackdown over leaked information concerning the detention and whereabouts of social media critic and activist, Chidiebere Justice Mark, popularly known as Justice Crack.
Military sources who spoke to SaharaReporters said senior officers at the CIC launched an internal operation targeting personnel suspected of leaking sensitive information regarding the activist’s detention and movements while he was held by military authorities.
According to the sources, the detained soldiers are currently being held in underground detention facilities at the CIC and are being accused of frustrating alleged plans by certain elements within the military hierarchy to secretly “make Justice Crack disappear.”
“Over 10 soldiers have already been detained underground at the CIC,” one of the sources said.
“They are accusing them of leaking information about Justice Crack’s whereabouts and frustrating alleged plans by elements within the military to make Justice Crack disappear.”
The source told SaharaReporters that the military high command became furious after reports emerged linking the activist’s disappearance to military authorities, particularly following public outrage generated by SaharaReporters’ investigations into the case.
For instance, SaharaReporters published a video showing Justice Crack’s vehicle parked inside a military facility in Abuja at a time when authorities remained silent about his whereabouts.
The footage intensified public suspicion that the activist was being held by military authorities despite official silence on the matter.
SaharaReporters had also reported earlier that the activist was reported being held in military custody before he was eventually handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS).
The detention of the soldiers is said to have triggered fear and tension within military circles, especially among personnel worried about possible reprisals over internal leaks and growing scrutiny surrounding the case.
Justice Crack’s arrest and prosecution have continued to attract condemnation from rights groups and lawyers, who describe the case as an abuse of state power aimed at silencing dissent.
Human rights lawyers at Marshal Attorneys recently called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to withdraw the three-count charge filed against the activist before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a letter dated May 5, 2026, the lawyers described the prosecution as a violation of constitutional rights and due process.
The legal team stated that Justice Crack became a target because of his outspoken criticism of military authorities over the welfare and treatment of soldiers, as well as his public commentary on alleged abuses by security operatives.
“As a social crusader, human rights activist and media personality, our client has been vehement in critiquing the poor welfare, feeding and poor treatment of soldiers in the country including a recent expose on an incident in Dei-Dei, Abuja involving the brutal murder of a Youth Corps member; Abudulsamad Jamiu by military officers,” the lawyers stated.
According to the letter, military intelligence officers allegedly abducted the activist on April 28, 2026, after he honoured an invitation for a meeting at the NAOWA Shopping Complex in Asokoro, Abuja.
“Irked by the foregoing, Military intelligence officers on Tuesday April 28, 2026 at the NAOWA Shopping Complex, Asokoro, Abuja abducted our client after he honoured an invitation for a meeting,” the lawyers alleged.
The lawyers further claimed that following nationwide outrage over his disappearance, military authorities quietly transferred him to the DSS, which subsequently filed charges against him under the Cybercrimes Act.
“Following nationwide uproar and criticism over the state induced forced disappearance, the Military officers stealthily handed him over to the Department of State Security Services who subsequently filed a three-count charge on Monday 4th May, 2026,” the letter stated.
The lawyers argued that the prosecution was an attempt to criminalise free speech and suppress legitimate criticism of public institutions.
They also questioned the legal authority of the DSS to independently investigate and prosecute criminal allegations.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, Barrister Abubakar and the African Action Congress (AAC) National Secretary, Philip Oshiokhai also met with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Wednesday to demand the immediate discontinuation of charges filed against the detained whistleblower.
According to Sowore, during the meeting, they made it “unequivocally clear that we would not tolerate any further delay in discontinuing the case, citing torture, abuse of process, and bogus, unethical charges.”
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