Released #EndBadGovernance Protesters Deny Torture Allegations By DSS

Released #EndBadGovernance Protesters Deny Torture Allegations By DSS

Several protesters detained during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna have denied accusations of mistreatment by the Department of State Services (DSS) while in custody. The protesters, who were disc jockeys (DJs) providing...CONTINUE READING…

music at the event, stated in interviews that they were not subjected to torture during their detention at the DSS office in Kaduna. They were released in October 2024 after a review of their case by the new DSS Director General, and confirmed they were treated fairly throughout the process.

Dahiru Hamza, known as DJ Zariya from Tudun Wada, Kaduna, shared his experience: “I was arrested on August 8, 2024, and while we were detained, there was no torture or starvation. We were released without needing to pay bail, and we were instructed to retrieve our sound systems by the Director General’s order.”

Hamza explained that he had been misinformed by some protest organizers, who claimed to have obtained permission from security agencies for the demonstration in Kaduna. He also called on the government to focus on creating job opportunities for Nigerian youth.

Isa Abdullahi, also known as DJ SP, supported Hamza’s account, stating there was no mistreatment during their detention, and he was permitted to communicate with his wife without restrictions. He thanked the DSS Director General for their release.

Furthermore, Khaleed, the protest coordinator who had hired the DJs, was also released after all charges against him were dropped, following the Director General’s directive. He has since been reunited with his family.

The freed protesters expressed their appreciation for the DSS’s treatment and called for increased transparency and government accountability in addressing the issues facing Nigerian youth.