The Department of State Services (DSS) has come under fire for the recent arrest and detention of an activist, Kola Edokpayi and several others in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
The activists were preparing to stage an anti- colonialism and neo- colonialism solidarity protest in support of Captain Ibrahim Traore, the President of Burkina Faso.
According to sources, on the day of the arrest, DSS operatives invaded Edokpayi’s office, ransacked it, and arrested him and several others in the process.
It was learnt that the action was taken despite the fact that the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, had already met with Edokpayi and his team the previous day, and the planned protest had been called off.
Concerns are growing over Edokpayi’s welfare, as he has been denied access to food, water, and visitors since his arrest.
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His wife was reportedly turned away when she attempted to visit him, and there are fears that he may have been relocated to Abuja to face treason charges.
The planned protest, which was meant to highlight the dangers of imperialism and neo-colonialism, would have been peaceful and would not have posed any threat to national security.
The DSS’s actions have sparked outrage and raised questions about the state of human rights and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about the state of democracy in Nigeria.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the federal government will respond to these concerns and ensure that human rights are protected.
