The Department for State Service, —DSS, has allegedly arrested a youth from Sokoto state, Aliyu Sanusi, over the planned nationwide protests against bad governance in Nigeria, scheduled to hold on August 1.
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the Adrican Action Congress, AAC had announced Sanusi’s arrest through a post he made on his X platform on Tuesday.
According to the politician, the DSS had arrested Sanusi on Monday evening in Sokoto State for reportedly printing and circulating protest materials.
In Sowore’s post, he had call for the the immediate release of the victim.
What They’re Saying
“The lawless @OfficialDSSNG has arrested Aliyu Sanusi for printing and distributing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria material in Sokoto state.
“He was arrested yesterday evening from the Sama Road Area in Sokoto. The DSS is directed to release Aliyu Sanudi immediately.”
Why It Matters
The charges against Sanusi, one of which includes treason is an attempt to intimidate potential protesters and discourage others from coming out and demanding accountability from the country’s leaders.
However, the Nigerian constitution protects citizens from the freedom of assembly and peaceful protests. Thus, Sanusi’s arrest over his reported participation in organizing a peaceful protest broaches concerns over citizens’ rights to express dissent and participate in civic engagement without fear of reprisal — especially in a country known for withdrawing its citizens’ human rights recklessly and suddenly.
