DSS Still Holding 49 N’Delta Youths Without Trial One Year After, IYC Alerts Amnesty International

Foremost Ijaw youth organization, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has told Amnesty International that about forty nine (49) Niger Deltans are still in the detention facilities of the State Security Services (SSS) for more than one year without trial.

This is coming on backdrop of Amnesty International’s exposure of cases of human rights violations in Nigeria in its 2017/2018 annual report which was released on Thursday 22, February, 2018.

In a statement on Friday by President of IYC, Barr. Eric Omare, the group call on Amnesty International to prevail on the Nigerian government to release the detainees currently in DSS detention and other Niger Deltans illegally detained.

The group also call on Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations to extend their search light and investigation of human rights violations in Nigeria to the Niger Delta region.

According to IYC, the Amnesty International report is a true reflection of the human rights situation in Nigeria, adding that there is a very little difference between the human rights situation during the military era and the current Buhari administration.

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“Under this administration, the rights of Nigerians are violated with reckless abandon without regard to the fact that we are in a civil administration.

“At the time of issuing this statement about forty nine (49) Niger Deltans are in the detention facilities of the State Security Services (SSS) for more than one year without trial, IYC said.

The IYC’s President said in some of the cases, competent courts of law established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) have ordered for their release but the SSS refused to comply with the release orders in disrespect of the court orders.

This is unthinkable in a democratic government where the rule of law is the cornerstone of governance, he said, adding, it is a dangerous precedent for security agencies established by law to disrespect the orders of court in a democratic government.

“If the authorities have any case against those detained, then, they should be charged to court and not indefinite detention”, he added.

He however mentioned Niger Delta youths and others currently in detention to include, Alex Odogu, John Fortune, Michael John, Gabriel Ogbu, Justice Golubus, Joshua Golubus, Norway Suku, Felix Mieminye.

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The statement further said; “The illegal detention of Niger Deltans in different detention centres is in addition to the daily violation of human rights in the nook and cranny of the Niger Delta region in the name of various security check points especially in the riverine areas where people are subjected to all sort of dehumanizing treatments.

“It is in this regard that we call on Amnesty International and other international human rights organizations to extend their search light and investigation of human rights violations in Nigeria to the Niger Delta region as well.

“We also call on the international community to prevail on the Nigerian government to release the 49 Niger Delta youths currently in DSS detention and other Niger Deltans illegally detained”.

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