DSS Threatens Legal Action Against Protester Over Torture Claims

The Department of State Services (DSS) has sent a formal letter to Khalid Aminu, an #EndBadGovernance protester, threatening legal action unless he retracts his recent allegations of torture while in DSS custody. Aminu, an engineer, was among the 76 protesters arrested in Kano and Kaduna during the demonstrations in August.

Upon his release, Aminu shared his experience during a television interview, where he claimed that DSS officers had subjected him to severe abuse while in detention.

ALSO READ: Reps Minority Caucus Demands Compensation for Minors Detained Over #EndBadGovernance Protest

He recounted the incident, saying, “What we went through was inhuman… they began beating us immediately, using boots and kicks. They then transported us in their Hilux and SUVs to the Command, where I was struck with a heavy cane and beaten with sticks and cables while lying on the ground.”

In response, the DSS, through their lawyer, Mohammed Sani Ndanusa, SAN, issued a letter on November 25, 2024, demanding Aminu retract his statements. The agency accused Aminu of intentionally spreading false information to harm their reputation. The letter, titled Re: Allegation of Torture By Department of State Security Officials While in Custody in Kaduna, asserted that Aminu’s claims were misleading and damaging to the DSS’s image.