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.