Sowore Names 12 Nigerians Held By DSS Without Trial Since 2021 For Attending Nnamdi Kanu Court Hearing
Sowore Names 12 Nigerians Held By DSS Without Trial Since 2021 For Attending Nnamdi Kanu Court Hearing
The activist accused the DSS of operating outside the law, noting that the detainees have been held for over four years without charge or trial.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has revealed the names of 12 people, mostly from Ebonyi State, who have been unlawfully detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Wawa Barracks detention facility since 2021.
Sowore, who made the revelation in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, said the only offence of the detainees was travelling to Abuja to attend a court appearance of the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The activist accused the DSS of operating outside the law, noting that the detainees have been held for over four years without charge or trial.
“Since 2021, the lawless Department of State Services (DSS) has unlawfully detained these citizens at Wawa Barracks,” Sowore stated.
“Their only ‘offence’ was travelling to Abuja to attend a court appearance in the case of Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to him, the individuals were arrested by DSS operatives in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, while en route to Abuja and have remained in custody ever since.
He noted that the prolonged detention of the detainees amounts to a grave violation of their fundamental human rights.
“The detainees, mostly citizens of Ebonyi State, were arrested by the DSS in Lokoja and have been held in custody since 2021 without trial,” he said.
Sowore listed the detainees as Wisdom Ezike, Kenneth Ojima, Chinedu Nwoba, Igwe Sampson, David Ogbonnaya, Aja Joseph, Barrister Awoke, Chinoso Oyibe, Eze Joseph, Okezie Fortune, as well as two drivers, one of whom he identified as Ikechukwu.
“These individuals have been illegally detained without charge or trial for over four years, in blatant violation of the fundamental principles of justice and human rights,” he stated.
The activist called for the immediate and unconditional release of the detainees, urging the Federal Government to compensate them for their prolonged incarceration.
He also demanded that officers responsible for the alleged violations be identified and held accountable.
Furthermore, Sowore called for the closure of the Wawa Barracks detention facility, describing it as a “dark site” that should no longer be allowed to operate.
“The DSS must release them immediately and unconditionally. The Federal Government must adequately compensate the victims for their prolonged and unlawful detention, identify the officers responsible, and ensure they are held fully accountable for these egregious violations.
“Further, Wawa Barracks detention centre and or another dark site must be closed down immediately,” he added.
