Group Faults Continued Detention Of Abubakar Affan By DSS

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has condemned the arrest and continued detention of Abubakar Affan by the Department of State Services (DSS) following his peaceful civic expression regarding international accountability for alleged war crimes.

MPAC’s executive chairman, Disu Kamor, said on Thursday that his continued detention without full constitutional safeguards, as contained in the Amnesty International report, raises urgent questions about the direction of civil liberty protections in Nigeria.

According to MPAC, when a citizen is punished for lawful expression, it signals more than enforcement; it signals repression.

It said such actions create a toxic climate of fear and self-censorship that deprives citizens of their fundamental right to freedom of expression and weakens the nation’s democratic fabric.

“Affan’s advocacy relates to calls for international justice involving Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under global legal scrutiny in proceedings associated with the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Demanding accountability through peaceful means is a constitutionally protected act, not a crime.

“It will be remembered that South Africa filed a case against Israel at the ICJ, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza, in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. The case, titled “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel),” was instituted on December 29, 2023

“Nigeria is yet to join the case against Israel at the ICJ, despite calls to do so. In contrast, several countries have heeded the call, including Spain, Ireland, Libya, Mexico, Belgium, Türkiye, and Comoros, which have joined the proceedings.

“It’s deeply troubling that state authorities’ response to Abubakar Affan’s advocacy appears disproportionate and punitive. By targeting a pro-Palestinian advocate, the DSS risks giving the impression that it’s more interested in shielding Israel’s actions in the occupied territories than in upholding the constitutional rights and freedoms of Nigerians.

“As custodians of national security, institutions must ensure their actions don’t raise doubts about whose interests they truly serve.’’