“Seiyefa must ensure, as a matter of urgency, that Nigerians are not held in DSS detention facilities indefinitely, without being taken to court," the youths stated.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has called on the acting Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Matthew Seiyefa, to investigate the two-year detention of Bayelsa-based journalist, Jones Abiri.
The organisation also commended the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, for subsequently sacking the former Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, following the Tuesday invasion of the National Assembly by DSS operatives.
Eric Omare, IYC President, urged Seiyefa to look into cases of the illegal arrest and detention of citizens by the DSS, especially Niger Delta youths, who had been in DSS detention without facing trial.
Citing the example of Abiri, who was recently arraigned after being detained for two years, the youths said: “Seiyefa must ensure, as a matter of urgency, that Nigerians are not held in DSS detention facilities indefinitely, without being taken to court.”
On the invasion of the National Assembly, the IYC urged the acting president to endeavour to ensure that all those involved face justice.
He praised the resistance by the lawmakers at the entrance of the National Assembly, and particularly commended the “heroic role of House of Representatives member, Boma Goodhead, from Rivers State, who is a younger sister to former President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Alhaji Asari Dokubo.”
“Hon. Goodhead and other members of the National Assembly, who confronted the DSS officials, who were on an illegal mission at the National Assembly, demonstrated courage which is needed to check a government inclined to dictatorship.
“For those with vindictive instinct, we wish to warn them to steer clear of Honourable Goodhead Boma as the Ijaw nation is watching. It is our expectation that the sack of Mr. Daura would bring to a stop the use of security agencies as agents of terror against citizens,” the statement read.