Salihu Yakasai: DSS finally reacts to arrest of Kano governor's aide, explains detention
- The DSS says it indeed arrested and is holding for questioning Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a former Kano governor aide on social media
- Reports of Yakasai's arrest emerged on Saturday, February 27 the day after he criticised all APC governments over the abduction of over 300 schoolgirls
- Yakasai has since lost his job but earned the support of Nigerians who said he had a right to criticise government actions
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The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest and detainment of Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a media aide to Kano state governor Abdullahi Ganduje by its operatives.
Premium Times reports that the secret police officially confirmed the reports that had been making the rounds in a statement it released on Sunday, February 28.
The statement, which was signed by DSS' spokesperson, Peter Afunnanya, said Yakasai was arrested for more than expressing his personal opinion about the government.
Source: UGC
Afunnanya said:
“This is to confirm that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai is with the DSS and he is being investigated over issues beyond the expression of opinions in the social media as wrongly alleged by sections of the public."
Legit.ng had reported that a social media aide to Ganduje was arrested by the DSS some hours after he criticised President Muhammadu Buhari.
Yakasai had in a series of tweets on Friday, February 26, in reaction to the abduction of about 317 female students of Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara state, said the kidnappings had become too frequent.
He accused the All Progressives Congress government of failing at all levels.
Yakasai was subsequently sacked for making a statement deemed critical of the Buhari administration.
His sack was announced by the state commissioner for information, Malam Muhammad Garba, on Saturday, February 27.
But Yakasai, who tweets @dawisu, has been receiving support from political elites and from ordinary Nigerians alike across the country since his arrest and detention.
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Akinyemi Akinrujomu is a professionally trained journalist with over 16 years of experience. His knowledge spans print, broadcast, and online media. He has worked in several top media organizations in Nigeria. He has also pioneered several print media publications. He is a graduate of History and International Studies from the Lagos State University and he also holds a professional National Diploma in Journalism. He loves reading, travelling and listening to music.
Source: Legit.ng
