News

DSS Targets Kano FM Stations Over Coverage Of #EndBadGovernance Victims’ Press Conference

DSS Targets Kano FM Stations Over Coverage Of #EndBadGovernance Victims’ Press Conference
  • PublishedJanuary 22, 2025

Security personnel in Kano State have begun a crackdown on FM stations that covered a press conference organized by families of victims of police brutality during the #EndBadGovernance protests.

These protests, held in August 2024, highlighted widespread concerns about bad governance, economic hardship, and the excessive use of force by law enforcement.

It was learnt that agents from the Department of State Services (DSS), also known as the State Security Service (SSS), have been searching for the organisers of the press conference and the addresses of the victims’ parents who spoke out.

At the press conference, families of victims called on the government and police authorities to take responsibility for the loss of innocent lives, while demanding justice and financial compensation.

The event was organised by the Victims Support Initiative Nigeria (VSIN) on Monday in Kano. Families shared their pain and frustrations, urging action and accountability.

One journalist revealed that their station was visited by DSS personnel for airing the story.

“They came to our radio station because on Monday we carried the story about the grievances of the parents of those killed by the police during the August protest.

“They were asking us about the organisers of the press conference and the details of the parents who spoke at the press conference,” the journalist said.

READ ALSO

Malam Yahya Ibrahim, whose son was killed during the protest, said, “Some of our sons and daughters were not even part of the protest but were killed because of excessive force used by the police. We are ready to provide all the information and evidence.”

Speaking on behalf of the families, Yahya Ibrahim shared his own tragic experience, “My son was just playing in the compound when a stray bullet cut his life short. This was not an accident but a failure of governance and accountability. We demand justice for all innocent lives lost.”

Fatima Yusuf, the coordinator of VSIN, emphasised the importance of addressing these tragedies. “These families deserve justice, not silence. The lives lost during the protests are a reminder of the systemic failures we need to fix as a nation,” she said.

Ibrahim added, “My son was just a little boy playing in our compound. He was too young to even understand what a protest meant, yet a policeman’s bullet took his life. The Inspector General’s denial of this tragedy only adds to our pain. It’s a stark reminder of how accountability is missing.”

He further lamented how the lack of justice has exacerbated their suffering. “We won’t stop fighting for justice until those responsible face the consequences,” he vowed.

The families called on the government to thoroughly investigate the killings and hold officers who misused firearms accountable.

They also demanded financial compensation for families who lost loved ones or sustained life-altering injuries.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *