No fewer than six individuals detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) for their involvement in protests against bad governance in Nigeria have been released. It was learned on Sunday.
The individuals were reportedly freed last Thursday in Kaduna, following the directive of the Director General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
A security source familiar with the case confirmed the release to Vanguard, adding that three other suspects are still being held and are in the process of being prosecuted for committing criminal offenses during the protests.
“The DG DSS is not interested in the incarceration of innocent citizens for expressing their constitutional rights. But he is also not going to allow criminal elements to take the law into their own hands,” the source explained.
The source further emphasized that the agency has solid evidence against the three individuals, saying, “There is incontrovertible evidence to press criminal charges against the three persons that are being held because we have prima facie evidence against them.”
The DSS head reiterated the citizens’ right to peaceful protest, stating, “The DG DSS reiterates citizens’ right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the constitution and regard for the rule of law. However, he is resolute on upholding the mandate of the service to decisively investigate and bring to justice those who exploit such rights to perpetrate crime.”
The released individuals reportedly expressed their appreciation to the DSS for the humane approach taken during the investigation that led to their release.
The protests, which took place from August 1 to 10 in major cities across Nigeria, aimed to draw attention to the worsening hardship in the country. However, the demonstrations were hijacked by criminal elements in some states, resulting in the harassment and intimidation of innocent citizens.