Days after their release, several protesters detained during the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protest in Kaduna have come forward to refute allegations of mistreatment by the Department of State Services (DSS) while in custody.
The detainees, primarily disc jockeys (DJs) who were present at the protest to provide music, shared their experiences with journalists, noting that they encountered fair treatment throughout their time in detention and that no acts of torture were committed against them.
Among those who spoke up was Dahiru Hamza, popularly known as DJ Zariya, from Tudun Wada, Kaduna. Hamza recounted his experience, saying, “I was arrested on August 8, 2024. We were detained but neither tortured nor starved.”
He further stated that they were released without being required to pay bail and were instructed to retrieve their sound equipment on the orders of the new DSS Director General. Hamza emphasized that while they were initially led to believe that the protest was authorized, the event organizers misled them by claiming that permission had been secured from security agencies.
Addressing the government, he urged for a heightened focus on creating job opportunities for young Nigerians, noting that unemployment is a driving force behind the discontent seen among the nation’s youth.
Isa Abdullahi, also known by his stage name DJ SP, echoed Hamza’s account, stating that his treatment while in DSS custody was fair and that he had been permitted to stay in contact with his wife without restrictions.
He expressed gratitude toward the DSS Director General for facilitating their release without bail, an act he described as a rare display of compassion. “The Director General ordered our unconditional release, and I am grateful for that,” Abdullahi remarked.
Khaleed, reportedly the protest coordinator who had hired the DJs, was also among those released. According to Hamza and Abdullahi, Khaleed had played a pivotal role in the protest and was initially charged along with the DJs. However, all charges against him were later dropped at the directive of the Director General, allowing him to return home to his family.
The newly appointed DSS Director General was commended by the released detainees for his fair and considerate actions, as he reviewed and ordered the case’s dismissal. The detainees expressed gratitude for the humane treatment they experienced and called for improved government accountability and transparency, especially in addressing the concerns of Nigerian youth.
Their statements underscored the importance of open communication and trust between young citizens and the government, as well as a genuine commitment to alleviating the economic pressures facing Nigeria’s youth.
