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SSS releases Buhari critic Dawisu

The conditions of his release are not immediately known.

• March 1, 2021
Salihu Tanko-Yakasai
A composite of DSS and Salihu Tanko-Yakasai [Photo credit: Daily Post]

The State Security Service (SSS) has freed Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, a critic of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, Daily Nigerian reports.

The conditions of his release are not immediately known.

The news outlet said Mr. Tanko-Yakasai’s elder brother, Umar, confirmed the development Monday night.

“My brother has just been released by DSS. We are now driving home,” Mr. Umar was quoted to have said.

Mr. Tanko-Yakasai, popularly known as Dawisu was arrested in a Gestapo style by the SSS on Saturday and initially denied his arrest. The service later owned up to the arrest after widespread outcry about Mr. Dawisu’s whereabouts.

Dawisu had criticised the Buhari-led APC government over the poor handling of security situation across the country in the wake of the abduction of over 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara.

His former boss, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje announced his sack over “unguarded utterances” and criticism against the ruling APC while he was being held by the secret police.

Mr. Ganduje had last October also suspended Dawisu for two weeks for his open criticism of President Buhari’s handling of the #EndSARS protest.

“I’ve never seen a govt with zero empathy like that of Buhari,” Mr. Tanko Yakasai tweeted via his verified Twitter handle, @Dawisu, in the heat of the protests. “So many times when his people are going through difficult time and expect some sort of shoulder to reassure them that he is in charge, but he failed to do so.”

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