Released #EndBadGovernance protesters deny torture claims

A few days after regaining their freedom, some of the protesters detained during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest have denied claims of torture while in custody at the Department of State Security office in Kaduna State.

The Punch online reports that the Department of State Services released six protesters arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests in Kaduna State.

The protests, which took place between August 1 and 10, were in response to the economic hardship experienced by citizens in the country.

According to human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, a total of 2,111 protesters were arrested by security agents during the protests.

However, sources in the DSS told our correspondent on Sunday that the service released the six protesters after completing its investigation, adding that another three would be arraigned.

“The DG is resolute in upholding the mandate of the Service to decisively investigate and bring to justice those who exploit such rights to perpetrate crime,” said the source.

Meanwhile, the protesters released a month ago, told journalists in Kaduna on Sunday that they had not been mistreated during their detention.

According to them, they were DJs who played music during the protest in Kaduna, not among those taken to court in Abuja.

“We were released earlier in October 2024 following a directive from the new DSS Director General, who reviewed our case immediately after taking over and found us innocent.”

Dahiru Hamza, also known as DJ Zariya, from Tudun Wada, Kaduna, stated that “our release followed the DSS DG’s decision upon realising our innocence.”

“I was arrested on the 8th of August 2024. We were detained, but we were neither tortured nor starved. However, we were released without having to pay any bail and were asked to go and collect our sound systems, on the order of the DGSS,” he added.

Hamza maintained that he had been misled by some of the protest organisers, who assured him that security agencies had granted permission for the protest. He also urged the government to create more employment opportunities for the country’s youth.

Isa Abdullahi, also known as DJ SP, who also operated in Kaduna, denied being tortured by the DSS while in detention. He noted that he was able to communicate with his wife during his time in custody without any issues.

He praised the DSS Director General, who “ordered our release without any conditions or charges.”

Khaleed, reportedly the coordinator of the protest and the one who hired the DJs, allegedly informed them that they had secured security clearance for the event.

He was also released, with all charges against him dropped on the Director General’s orders, allowing him to reunite with his family