LAGOS, Nigeria – The Council of Arewa Chiefs in southern Nigeria expressed outrage on Monday, July 17, 2023, over the ongoing detention of their leader, Alhaji Aminu Yaro, and his wife by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Yaro, the Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos and Chairman of the Council, was reportedly invited by the DSS for interrogation in connection with an investigation into Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
However, he has remained in custody for three days, prompting outcry from the council.
In a statement signed by the Jarman of Lagos, Yarima Shettima, the Council of Arewa Chiefs called for Yaro’s immediate and unconditional release.
They characterized his detention as unlawful and demanded the DSS to provide immediate access to legal representation, medical attention, and family members.
“The attention of the Council of Arewa Chiefs, Lagos State has been drawn to the unexplained detention of the Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos and Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Aminu Idris Yaro with his wife by the Department of State Services (DSS),” the statement read.
While acknowledging Yaro’s friendship with Emefiele, the council expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding his involvement in the investigation.
According to the public record, Emefiele is accused of possessing unlicensed firearms.
The council questioned the implication of Yaro in these charges, describing the situation as “regrettable.”
The statement continued, “The council is concerned that the DSS might typically be used to hunt down respected leaders of the community using terrorism fight as a smoke screen.”
Shettima emphasized that while the council does not challenge the authority of the DSS to conduct investigations, the continued detention of Yaro for over 24 hours “is repugnant to the sensibilities of the traditional rulership system, the Arewa community and the Council of Chiefs.”
He suggested the DSS present Yaro before a competent court of law instead of detaining him indefinitely without trial.
When contacted for comment, DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya neither confirmed nor denied Yaro’s detention, telling correspondents, “No comments please.”
The council’s protest underscores the escalating tension between traditional authorities and state services in Nigeria, a situation watched with growing unease by community leaders and human rights advocates.
