Amnesty International has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to either release Engr. Tahiru Mohammed Salihu or arr...
In a statement issued on Thursday, Amnesty International Nigeria said Salihu was arrested by DSS operatives during a raid on his residence in Kubwa, Abuja, in the early hours of 4 February 2023.
According to the organisation, the operatives took him into custody at about 4:30 a.m., and since then, his family and legal representatives have allegedly been denied access to him despite repeated requests.
Amnesty International stated that several appeals by lawyers acting on behalf of Salihu's family, seeking permission for his wife and children to visit him or for him to be charged to court, had received no response from the security agency.
The organisation said the prolonged detention had left his family in distress and uncertain about his condition and whereabouts.
It argued that detaining an individual for more than three years without trial, regardless of the allegations against the person, constitutes a violation of due process and demonstrates disregard for the rule of law.
Amnesty International also expressed concern that prolonged incommunicado detention could expose detainees to the risk of torture or other forms of ill-treatment.
The organisation urged the Nigerian authorities to uphold the rule of law by granting Salihu immediate access to his family and legal counsel, and either charging him before a court of competent jurisdiction or releasing him without further delay.
It further stressed that government institutions, particularly security agencies, must operate within the confines of the law and respect the fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigeria's Constitution and international human rights obligations.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had not publicly responded to Amnesty International's statement as of the time of filing this report.
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