Kano, Nigeria – The family of Nura Alhaji Tijjani, a Point of Sale (POS) operator from Kabuga Tudun Yola in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, is pleading for his release or a fair trial after his three-year detention by the Department of State Services (DSS). Tijjani was arrested on July 13, 2021, along with his shop attendant, Nasiru Abdullahi Abdulhamid, and has remained in detention ever since.
According to Daily Trust, Tijjani and Abdulhamid were apprehended by DSS operatives at around 6 PM on the fateful day and later transferred to a military base in Wawa, Niger State, in January 2023. A transfer form obtained by the correspondent confirms this relocation.
Tijjani’s family is in the dark about the reasons for his arrest and the charges against him, which has compounded their suffering. His wife, Binta Mukhtar, who is left to care for their eight children alone, shared the harrowing impact of his detention on their lives.
“My husband was arrested three years ago by DSS operatives. They arrived with about 15 vehicles, beat up his family members and friends, and took him away,” Binta recounted. “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.”
The prolonged detention has plunged the family into financial and emotional turmoil. Binta described the severe health challenges she now faces due to stress and uncertainty. The family’s home has been sold, leaving them on the brink of destitution.
“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, also expressed her anguish and frustration. She revealed that individuals who promised to help secure her son’s release have exploited their desperation, taking large sums of money without delivering any results.
“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 calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, and other relevant authorities to intervene and ensure that Tijjani is either released or brought to court to face trial. They believe this is the only way to uncover the truth about the charges against him and seek justice.
“My husband needs to be brought to court promptly so we can understand the charges against him and seek justice,” Binta emphasized.
The DSS has yet to provide any public statement regarding Tijjani’s arrest or the charges against him, leaving his family in a state of perpetual uncertainty and distress. The lack of transparency and due process in this case raises serious concerns about the protection of citizens’ rights under the law.
This situation highlights the broader issue of prolonged detentions without trial in Nigeria, where many individuals are held for extended periods without being formally charged or given the opportunity to defend themselves in court. Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for reforms to ensure that detainees are treated fairly and that their legal rights are upheld.
As the family continues to wait for answers, their plight serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of indefinite detentions. The psychological and financial toll on Tijjani’s family underscores the urgent need for legal reforms and accountability within the justice system.
