By Kazeem Olalekan
CITIZENS COMPASS—I came across the disturbing news of the arrest and continued detention of Comrade Andrew Emelieze of the Federal Workers Forum by the State Security Service (SSS) in Ibadan. Reports indicate that he has been in SSS custody since Thursday, July 3rd. That is deeply troubling!
I must express disappointment in the conduct of the SSS as regards the arrest and continued detention. The Service appears to have strayed from its core mandate, increasingly acting as a tool for any government in power. This is a dangerous and undemocratic trend.
In fact, I expect that officers of the Service be concerned that the institution is regularly in the news for negative reasons. Hardly a day passes without reports of its operatives behaving like gangsters rather than members of a professional security outfit. This perception damages the credibility of the Service.
Arresting and detaining Comrade Emelieze for protesting the poor treatment of federal workers reflects badly on the SSS. It sends the wrong message about civil rights in Nigeria. The Service must understand that peaceful protest is a right guaranteed by all international law which has been domesticated in the Laws of the Federation. Workers and citizens have the right to organise and resist anti-people policies. However, repressing such efforts through harassment and detention only worsen the trust deficit between the government and the people.
At this point, the SSS must redirect its focus towards addressing genuine security threats such as terrorism, kidnapping, banditry, and inter-group violence (as stated in their mandate), not peaceful citizens demanding better conditions. Internal security challenges are too numerous and urgent, they deserve the Service’s full attention.
Clearly, the federal government, for its part, has failed to honour its own promise to pay the newly approved minimum wage. It is even more disappointing that some State governments have started payment, while the federal government lags behind. In fact, the only payment made so far was in response to protests by federal workers nationwide. Yet, they expect federal workers not to react.
Meanwhile, rather than fulfilling its agreement, the federal government has resorted to using the SSS to harass and intimidate those demanding justice. That is not only shameful but also unlawful. The continued detention of Comrade Emelieze lacks any legal basis. And, I must state that the SSS has no constitutional or professional justification for holding him.
The Service, which was once known for commendable work in national intelligence and security, is losing its credibility through involvement in partisan repression. I am of the strong view that the Service must return to its original purpose; protecting the country’s internal stability, gathering intelligence on national threats, and ensuring the safety of top government officials. The law mandates the SSS to deal with terrorism, espionage, economic sabotage, and threats that endanger the nation, not civil protests. Civil repression should not for any reason be part of the Service’s operations. The federal government must understand that using state security to silence critics is a violation of the principles of democracy.
Comrade Emelieze’s, and, indeed, workers’ protest was peaceful and in the interest of Nigerian workers. He did nothing to justify his arrest, much less continued detention. His action is consistent with democratic engagement, and his detention is an affront to justice.
It is important that the SSS repositions itself as a neutral, professional, and law-abiding institution. It must not allow itself to be used against innocent citizens exercising their legitimate rights. The actions of the Service must align with the law, not with political convenience. The SSS used to have a good name amongst the people, it must work towards reclaiming its mandate.
We must remember that democracy thrives where freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and the right to protest are respected. Silencing dissent through security agencies undermines the rule of law and weakens the foundations of democratic governance.
Therefore, I call for the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Andrew Emelieze. His arrest is unjust, and his continued detention is a gross abuse of power. The SSS should clear itself of political bias and focus on the real threats facing Nigeria.
Once again, I reiterate that security agencies must operate with professionalism, integrity, and within the bounds of the law. Anything short of that is unacceptable. Nigeria needs a security service that upholds justice not one that suppresses it.
Kazeem Olalekan Israel, a public commentator, writes from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
