Activist politician Omoyele Sowore claimed on Sunday that Ahmed Abubakar, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), resigned due to his reluctance to partake in human rights violations allegedly planned by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Sowore accused Abubakar of previously aiding former President Muhammadu Buhari in committing abuses, including the abduction of Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu.
These claims came in response to the recent arrest of investigative journalist Adejuwon Soyinka. The Department of State Services (DSS) reportedly detained Soyinka, the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa, upon his arrival at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Sunday, following a Virgin Atlantic flight from the UK.
Before Soyinka’s arrest, Abubakar had resigned from his role as NIA DG, citing personal and family reasons. He submitted his resignation letter to President Tinubu during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Afterward, Abubakar told journalists that his departure was not driven by any significant issues, emphasizing that it was for personal reasons and that his relationship with the administration would remain cordial. “There are a number of reasons one would do that—some personal family issues, but nothing serious, and the friendship will continue,” he said.
