No fewer than six persons, who were held by the Department of State Services, DSS, over their roles in the protests over bad governance in Nigeria, have been freed by the security agency, Vanguard learned on Sunday.
According to competent security sources, the six persons were freed last Thursday in Kaduna on the orders of the Director General of the DSS, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi.
The source, who is familar with the release of the suspects, told Vanguard on Sunday that three other suspects are however being processed by the agency for prosecution having been found to have committed criminal offences during the protest.
The top source said, “The DG DSS is not interested in the incarceration of innocent citizens for expressing their constitutional rights but is also not going to allow criminal elements take laws into their hands.
“There is incontrovertible evidence to press criminal charges against the three persons that are being held because we have a prima facie evidence against them.
“The DG DSS reiterates citizen’s right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the constitution and regard for the rule of law.
Nigerian security forces have reportedly detained over 1,000 protesters during the demonstrations, with several deaths also being reported. The release of these detained protesters signals a positive step towards addressing the concerns raised by civil society organizations and human rights groups.
Amnesty International, among other organizations, had previously called on the Nigerian government to ensure the protection of protesters’ rights and to address the issues that sparked the #EndBadGovernance movement. The release of the detained protesters indicates that the government may be heeding these calls and taking steps to engage with the grievances voiced by the demonstrators.
