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Incident between 14 March 2014 and October 2014 [+] Print this page

Location: DSS in Maiduguri, Maiduguri [+]

Country: Nigeria [+]

Violation types: Unlawful Arrest [+] Unlawful Detention [+]

Perpetrator classifications: Military [+] State Security Service (Internal Security) [+]

Location


This incident took place in DSS in Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria [+]

Description


According to Amnesty International: "On 19 January 2013, the JTF Operation Restore Order I arrested Alhaji Bukar Yaganami, a 50-year-old police contractor in Maiduguri, in his home. The military took him to Giwa and returned to his house later that day for a search. His health deteriorated while in custody as he has diabetes and hypertension. Amnesty International wrote to the Commander of the JTF on 10 June 2013 to request that Alhaji be charged or released from detention, copying the Chief Defence Staff, the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Security Advisor. A reminder was sent on 11 October 2013. No response was received. His lawyer requested bail on 18 November 2013, but it was refused. On 22 January 2014, his lawyer filed a case in court requesting his release. Alhaji escaped after the attack on Giwa Barracks on 14 March 2014 and immediately reported himself at DSS in Maiduguri. His family went there and saw him. They were told that DSS would release him, but he was not released. On 10 July 2014, the judge ordered that Alhaji’s arrest and detention was illegal and unconstitutional and that he should be released on bail. The judge signed a warrant requesting the DSS to produce Alhaji at the Federal High Court on 11 July 2014. In a letter dated 25 July 2014 and sent to the DSS in Maiduguri, the solicitors to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice stated they had no objection to his release. Still, he was not released. In October 2014 the family was told to come to DSS and sign his release papers. But instead of releasing him, the DSS handed him over to the military. A family member told Amnesty International: “They said we can’t go with him, that the military would take him. They were coming out of the gate, in a black hilux with soldiers inside, tinted glass, no number plate. The soldiers didn’t say anything. We didn’t know where they were taking him, until after one month, we found out through some people that were released.” The family continued to try and secure his release in court. “The military came to court. They said they don’t know him, don’t know who he is. The court ordered his release.” The family is currently seeking an enforcement of the court order to release Alhaji." [+]

Sources

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Publication Date Publisher Publication Title Access Date Archive Link
02 June 2015 Amnesty International Stars on their shoulders. Blood on their hands. War crimes committed by the Nigerian military. 44/1657/2015. 27 September 2018