Protesters Deny Torture in DSS Custody: Contradict Claims of Brutality
A few days after regaining their freedom, some protesters detained during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests in Kaduna have refuted allegations of torture while in custody at the Department of State Security (DSS) office. This comes in direct contrast to the claims of Khalid Aminu, a fellow detainee, who accused DSS operatives of torturing and brutalizing him during his time in custody.
Aminu, who had earlier shared his ordeal on Channels TV, described his experience as “inhuman,” stating that he was subjected to severe mistreatment and denied access to his family throughout his detention. “What I went through, what we went through, was inhuman,” Aminu said, highlighting the harsh conditions he allegedly faced.
However, in a press briefing held in Kaduna, some of the other detainees, who were released in October 2024, provided a different account. These protesters, who were hired as Disc Jockeys (DJs) to perform during the protests, categorically denied experiencing any form of torture or mistreatment while in DSS custody. They revealed that their release followed a review by the new DSS Director General, who found no evidence to justify their continued detention.
Dahiru Hamza, known as DJ Zariya, stated that while he and others were detained for several weeks, they were treated humanely. “We were arrested on the 8th of August, 2024, and although we were detained, we were neither tortured nor starved. We were eventually released without having to pay any bail, and the new DSS DG ordered us to collect our sound systems,” Hamza explained.
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Another detainee, Isa Abdullahi, also known as DJ SP, echoed Hamza’s sentiments. He emphasized that, contrary to Aminu’s claims, they were not subjected to any violence and were able to communicate with their families during the detention. “I was able to speak with my wife without any issues while in custody,” Abdullahi confirmed.
Both Hamza and Abdullahi credited their release to the intervention of the newly appointed DSS Director General, who, upon reviewing their case, found them to be innocent and ordered their unconditional release. They expressed gratitude for the DG’s swift action and cleared the air about their roles in the protest. “We were not part of those taken to court in Abuja; we were just the DJs hired to play music during the protest,” Hamza clarified.
The DJs also revealed that they were misled by the protest organizers, who had assured them that the demonstration had received official security clearance. Hamza urged the government to address the underlying issues that fuel such protests, particularly by creating more employment opportunities for the country’s youth.
Khalid Aminu, who organized the protest and hired the DJs, was also released alongside them. All charges against him were dropped following the DSS Director General’s review, and he was able to reunite with his family.
The conflicting accounts between Aminu and the DJs leave open questions about the treatment of detainees during the #EndBadGovernance protests. While the DJs assert that no mistreatment occurred, Aminu’s claims continue to raise concerns about transparency and accountability within the DSS.
The DSS has not yet issued an official statement regarding the contrasting claims, but the case has highlighted the importance of addressing the grievances of both detainees and the public to foster trust in law enforcement institutions.
