DSS Raids FM Stations in Kano Over #EndBadGovernance Press Conference Coverage
Security forces in Kano State, including the Department of State Services (DSS), have been raiding FM stations in search of journalists who reported on a press conference organized by families of victims from the #EndBadGovernance protests. The press conference, held on Monday in Kano, was hosted by the Victims Support Initiative Nigeria (VSIN) and focused on the demand for justice and compensation for those killed during last year’s protests.
The families, who lost loved ones in the protests, urged both the government and police authorities to take responsibility for the deaths and provide fair compensation to the victims’ families. These protests, which occurred in August 2023, aimed to bring attention to Nigeria’s governance issues, economic hardship, and other national concerns.
According to SaharaReporters, DSS agents have been attempting to gather information about the press conference’s organizers and the families who spoke at the event. One journalist involved in the coverage explained that security officers had visited their station, inquiring about the individuals behind the press event and requesting information about the families who shared their stories.
Among the speakers was Malam Yahya Ibrahim, whose son was tragically killed by a stray bullet during the protest. Ibrahim appealed to President Bola Tinubu to establish an independent inquiry into the deaths. “Some of our children were not even involved in the protests but lost their lives due to excessive force by the police. We are ready to provide all the evidence,” Ibrahim said, his voice filled with emotion.
Yahya Ibrahim, whose five-year-old son was killed in their family compound by a stray bullet, shared his painful story: “My son was simply playing in the yard when he was struck by a bullet. This wasn’t an accident—it’s a failure of governance and accountability. We demand justice for all innocent lives lost,” he said.
VSIN, a group that supports victims of police violence, revealed that over 50 families across Nigeria have reported similar tragic losses tied to the protests, further emphasizing allegations of excessive force by security personnel. Fatima Yusuf, VSIN’s coordinator, called for an independent judicial panel to investigate the incidents and ensure compensation for the victims’ families. “These families deserve justice, not silence. The lives lost in these protests reflect systemic issues in our society,” she urged.
The families of the victims have continued to demand thorough investigations and accountability for those responsible for the deaths, as well as compensation for those impacted by the protests. Ibrahim explained how the lack of justice has deepened their grief, with many families still waiting for closure. “We will continue to fight for justice until those responsible are held accountable,” he vowed.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has made similar statements regarding the police’s actions during the protests, though it has not faced similar scrutiny from law enforcement. Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore criticized the Nigerian police for double standards in their handling of the issue. He pointed out the police’s request for Amnesty International to retract its report on the use of live ammunition during the protests, while not extending the same demands to the NHRC.
Amnesty International’s report accused Nigerian police of using live ammunition against protesters, resulting in at least 24 deaths in states like Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, and Niger. The organization further alleged that the death toll could be higher, due to efforts to cover up the killings by
the authorities.
