The Department of State Services (DSS) has commenced prosecution of three of the protesters arrested in Kaduna State during August nationwide demonstration, Daily Trust reports.
It was also gathered that at least six among those Kaduna protesters have been released following the conclusion of an investigation that was carried out by the crack operatives of the service.
Their release and prosecution came on the heels of a claim made by the human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, that a total of 2,111 protesters were arrested by security agents during the protests.
Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had criticised the Tinubu-led federal government for clamping down on peaceful protesters while leaving bandits and other criminals to walk free.
- US court authorises businessman tortured by SSS to seize $21m from Nigeria’s JP Morgan account
- Flood cuts off road linking Maiduguri to neighbouring countries
Speaking to our correspondent Sunday night, a highly-placed official of the secret police said those six released have been cleared by the operatives of the service, hence the reasons for regaining their freedom.
The official disclosed that the three among the protesters were not released because “prima facie cases” were established against them.
“On September 19, 2024 (Thursday), the service released six persons held in Kaduna who had regained freedom having been cleared at the end of investigations.
“Meanwhile, three are being prosecuted for established prima facie cases. The DG DSS directed the immediate release of the protesters who were arrested for their various roles in the #EndBadGovernance protests.
“The DG is resolute on upholding the mandate of the Service of decisively investigating and bringing to justice those who exploit such rights to perpetrate crime,” the source confided in our correspondent.
Several efforts to get official reaction from the secret police proved abortive as calls to the official phone lines of the service didn’t connect. An email sent to the service was yet to get any response as at when filing this report last night.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
