The family of Lukman Abbas Oricha, President of the Ebira Youth Congress (EYC) in Ajaokuta, Kogi State, is demanding answers and justice after his sudden arrest and months-long detention without trial by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Held incommunicado since February 7, 2025, Lukman’s whereabouts and wellbeing remain unknown, as authorities have refused to provide clarity or legal access.
According to family accounts, Lukman was arrested around 1:45 a.m. at his residence in Kaduna Estate, Ajaokuta, by DSS operatives allegedly led by the then-head of the local unit, Mr. Shagi Jonathan. His younger sister, Mariam Abbas, who spoke with SaharaReporters, described the arrest as shocking and unprovoked, with no charges disclosed.
“It was the middle of the night. My younger brother said men came and took Lukman. He identified one of them as the DSS boss. That’s how we knew,” Mariam said.
The arrest came a day after Lukman reportedly visited the DSS office voluntarily, following community pressure to intervene in the earlier arrest of another resident, Abdulkareem. Lukman had been leading a local committee seeking Abdulkareem’s release, a move the family now believes may have led to his own arrest.
Despite repeated efforts by the family including court filings, lawyer consultations, and visits to DSS offices in Lokoja and Abuja; Lukman remains unreachable, untried, and effectively disappeared. The DSS in Ajaokuta has since denied knowledge of the arrest, pushing the blame to Abuja.
“They denied he was in their custody,” Mariam recounted. “Then we were told by a lawyer that the arrest was sanctioned from Abuja.”
The family engaged multiple lawyers and spent over ₦700,000 in legal fees, but say they have made no meaningful progress. One lawyer allegedly defrauded them, while others abandoned the case, claiming lack of updates from the DSS headquarters.
“We sent letters. One of our relatives even stayed in Abuja for two months following up, but no response has come from the DSS,” Mariam said, visibly distressed. “Our family is broken. Two relatives have died since Lukman was taken. My parents are elderly and tired. His wives are struggling. The children are all below seven.”
Lukman’s wife, Amina Bello Ohuneme, a student, described the toll the detention has taken on her education and mental health.
“They said we would hear from them in three days. It’s been over five months now,” Amina said. “We don’t know if he is alive, sick, or dead. He was battling health issues at the time of his arrest.”
She added that DSS officials refused to grant them access or provide information during their visits to Abuja. With no spokesperson currently assigned since the agency’s shift to media silence in 2024, public accountability has been elusive.
Both Amina and Mariam appealed passionately to community leaders, government officials, and Nigerians at large for help, urging a lawful resolution.
“If Lukman has committed any offence, let him be brought to court. If not, he should be released,” Amina said. “This is unconstitutional and inhumane.”
In a public plea, the family called on Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Hon. Abdulraheem Sanni Egidi to intervene, urging the DSS to either charge Lukman in court or release him unconditionally.
The case reflects a broader concern about accountability in Nigeria’s intelligence operations. Since the appointment of Director-General Adeola Ajayi in 2024 and the removal of former spokesperson Dr. Peter Afunanya, the DSS has adopted a silent strategy, halting media engagements and reducing transparency around its actions.
For the Abbas family, however, the silence has become deafening.
“We just want to know if he’s okay,” Mariam said. “And if he’s not guilty, he should come home.”
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