3yrs on, family of Kano POS operator arrested by DSS demands release, trial

The family of Nura Alhaji Tijjani from Kabuga Tudun Yola, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, have lamented the prolonged detention of their breadwinner, who was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) three years ago. They are seeking the release of Tijjani or, at the very least, for him to […]

The family of Nura Alhaji Tijjani from Kabuga Tudun Yola, Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, have lamented the prolonged detention of their breadwinner, who was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) three years ago.

They are seeking the release of Tijjani or, at the very least, for him to be taken to court to begin his trial, as they remain unaware of the charges against him.

Daily Trust reported that Tijjani, a POS operator along BUK Road, was arrested alongside his shop attendant, Nasiru Abdullahi Abdulhamid, on July 13, 2021, around 6 PM, and has since been held in detention.

It was gathered that on 13 January, 2023, the suspects were transferred to a military base in Wawa, Niger State, as evidenced by a copy of the transfer form seen by our correspondent.

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Speaking to Daily Trust, Tijjani’s wife, Binta Mukhtar, a mother of eight, lamented the hardship her family has endured since her husband’s arrest.

She appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, and all relevant authorities to intervene in their plight.

“My husband was arrested three years ago by DSS operatives. I remember vividly that day; they arrived with about 15 vehicles, beat up his family members and friends, and took him away.

“Since then, my children have stopped going to school. They face public rejection among their peers and in school. We still don’t know why he was arrested. What crime did he commit? We have no answers,” she lamented.

“Our lives have been turned upside down. I am now facing serious health challenges due to stress and uncertainty. Our house has been sold, and we are on the brink of destitution. Please, do not make my children orphans like me,” she pleaded tearfully.

Tijjani’s mother, Sadiya Saleh, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting their desperate situation and the exploitation they faced from individuals promising to help secure her son’s release.

“We are suffering. People who promised to help us have taken advantage of our desperation. We have sold everything we owned, given large sums of money-N4 million, N2 million, N1 million-to various individuals claiming they could assist, but nothing has come of it. We feel abandoned,” she said.

The family is now demanding that Tijjani be brought to court promptly so they can understand the charges against him and seek justice.’’