Meanwhile, a source told SaharaReporters that the most disturbing aspect of the case is that Abdulyakini’s case officer, who investigated him, confirmed he was not found guilty of any offence.
A businessman, Abdulyakini Salisu, who owns a quarry along the Zuba–Kaduna Road, has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2022 without being charged in court, SaharaReporters has exclusively learned.
A top official of the DSS told SaharaReporters that Salisu, who has developed multiple health complications while in custody, remains detained because the agency fears he might sue them for unlawful detention if released, especially after investigations found nothing incriminating against him.
Meanwhile, a source told SaharaReporters that the most disturbing aspect of the case is that Abdulyakini’s case officer, who investigated him, confirmed he was not found guilty of any offence.
However, the Service is reportedly afraid to release him, fearing he might sue for damages.
The source said, “Abdulyakini Salisu, who owns a quarry business along the Zuba–Kaduna Road, was arrested in 2022 and has not been charged. He has since developed several health challenges.
“The most disturbing aspect of the matter is that his case officer, after completing the investigation, said he was not guilty of any offence. But the Service is reluctant to release him because they fear he could take legal action and demand compensation.”
Another source told SaharaReporters that even some DSS officials are unhappy with the way he is being treated.
“Even DSS officials were not happy with the way he is being treated,” the source said.
“He is a successful businessman with legitimate ventures and partners from China and other parts of the world.
“The DSS is notorious for detaining innocent citizens.”
Wife of Detained Man Cries Out
Abdulyakini’s wife, speaking with SaharaReporters on Thursday, lamented that she has not seen her husband since he was taken away from Kaduna in 2022.
“We thought they were kidnappers until we investigated and discovered it was the DSS who took him. They took him to Abuja. We tried our best to see him at the DSS headquarters, but they frustrated us. They told us to write a letter, and despite writing several letters, they never allowed us to see him,” she said.
She told SaharaReporters that since her husband’s arrest, she has been suffering and living from hand to mouth.
“The DSS came the following day, ransacked his room, and carted away some documents. Despite all our efforts, they have refused to release him. He has not been found guilty of any crime,” he said.
She further explained that her husband has a license for the quarry business he runs and has never been previously linked to any criminal activity.
“This is how innocent citizens are unlawfully detained without committing any offence,” she lamented.
“I’m appealing to the Federal Government to intervene and order the DSS to release my husband. Why don’t they want to release him?”
She added that her husband was the breadwinner of the family, and since his arrest in 2022, life has been extremely difficult for them.
“We are struggling to survive, even though my husband did not commit any crime. Since 2022, they have completely blocked us from accessing him,” she said.
The DSS has a well-documented history of unlawful detentions and routinely holding individuals for extended periods without formally charging them.
For instance, Atiku Abubakar Isah, the factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), was arrested and detained on April 29, 2025 and not arraigned until June 24, 2025, after nearly two months in DSS custody.
He was charged with inciting public disturbance and impersonating a public officer.
Similarly, human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, was detained in 2019 for organising the #RevolutionNow protest. Though eventually released, his detention drew widespread criticism for delays in trial and violations of court orders.
Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), was detained in 2015 after a clash with the Nigerian Army. Despite court orders for his release, he remained in custody for years before being granted bail in 2021.
