Meta has unpublished FIJ’s Facebook page as the newsroom faces cyberattacks and police investigations linked to its reporting on a Nigerian university official.
Meta Platforms Inc., parent company of Facebook, has taken down the Foundation for Investigative Journalism’s (FIJ) official page, citing violations of its cybersecurity standards. FIJ confirmed on Sunday that it received a notification stating its page “FIJ Nigeria” had been unpublished.
The newsroom denied the allegation, insisting Meta’s cybersecurity rules “had no bearing” on its operations. FIJ said it has filed an appeal, with a decision expected by Thursday.
The suspension comes amid what FIJ described as growing attempts to silence its reporting. The newsroom recalled that its website was targeted in August by cyberattacks traced to the National Identity Management Commission.
Meanwhile, police pressure on FIJ continues to intensify. Founder and editor-in-chief Fisayo Soyombo has been summoned for questioning in Ekiti on September 15, just days after senior reporter Sodeeq Atanda was detained for 11 hours.
FIJ said the probe relates to its reports exposing sexual misconduct allegations against FUOYE Vice Chancellor Prof. Abayomi Fasina.