The family of Abbas Lukman, the Youth President of the Ebira people in Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, Kogi State, has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of abducting him in a midnight operation, secretly detaining him for months and arraigning him before a Federal High Court in Abuja without legal representation.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, members of Lukman’s family alleged that the DSS carried out the operation after acting on a petition purportedly written by a prominent political figure. They further claimed that although the agency repeatedly denied having Lukman in custody, it later admitted before the National Human Rights Commission that he was being investigated over alleged links to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an allegation the family strongly denied.
The allegations, which have heightened concerns over due process and abuse of state power, were made by members of Lukman’s family, who insist that his arrest was politically motivated and linked to a dispute over campaign expenses incurred during the last general election.
According to the family, Lukman, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), actively mobilised support for the party’s House of Representatives candidate in Ajaokuta Federal Constituency. They said he personally financed the construction of a borehole in the candidate’s name and also spent his own money on election logistics during the cashless policy era, believing he would later be reimbursed.
Although the logistics expenses were eventually refunded, the family claimed Lukman faced resistance when he demanded repayment for the borehole project. They alleged that after pressing for the refund, he was warned by associates of the politician to stop discussing the matter publicly.
According to the relatives, the money was eventually paid back, but they believe the disagreement triggered a chain of events that ultimately led to his arrest.
The family further alleged that Lukman’s ordeal began after he accompanied relatives of a missing young man identified as Abdulkareem to the DSS office in Ajaokuta. They said the agency informed him that the man had been arrested rather than kidnapped and later requested his assistance in providing information about the suspect.
Lukman reportedly told the DSS he had no meaningful knowledge of Abdulkareem beyond his role as Youth President and promised to provide information if any became available.
However, the family alleged that later that night, several armed DSS operatives arrived at Lukman’s residence in four Hilux vehicles, identified themselves as security officers, collected his mobile phone and hunting rifle, and took him away after assuring his wife he was only being invited to Abuja for questioning.
They said that was the last time the family saw him.
According to the relatives, repeated visits to DSS offices in Ajaokuta and Lokoja yielded conflicting responses, with officials initially asking them to wait 72 hours before later denying that Lukman was in custody and advising the family to seek legal action.
The family alleged that they were subsequently informed that Lukman’s arrest followed a petition allegedly submitted from Abuja by a politically influential figure.
They claimed community members linked the petition to the earlier disagreement between Lukman and the APC lawmaker over reimbursement of campaign expenses, although no official evidence has been made public to support the allegation.
Despite appeals to political leaders across Kogi State, the family said no intervention came.
Months later, according to the family, the DSS acknowledged before the National Human Rights Commission that Lukman was in its custody and stated that he was under investigation for alleged links to ISWAP.
The family strongly rejected the allegation, describing it as false and insisting that Lukman had spent years supporting community security initiatives and working with security agencies.
They cited his role during the 2023 abduction of students from Comprehensive School, when they said he personally financed security mobilisation before government intervention, expenses they claimed were later reimbursed by the authorities.
The family further alleged that Lukman’s father sought clarification from the federal lawmaker they suspect was behind the petition, but received no response. They also claimed the lawmaker later denied knowing Lukman when approached by community youths.
According to the family, they only recently discovered that the DSS had already filed criminal charges against Lukman before the Federal High Court in Abuja and that proceedings had continued without legal representation for him.
They described the development as a grave violation of his constitutional rights and accused the security agency of denying him access to justice.
The family’s lawyer has since instituted legal proceedings challenging Lukman’s detention.
In its response before the court, the DSS reportedly maintained that it obtained a valid court order authorising Lukman’s remand at the Wawa Custodial Centre pending the conclusion of investigations.
The case has intensified calls for greater transparency and accountability in the operations of Nigeria’s security agencies, particularly in matters involving prolonged detention, access to legal representation and adherence to constitutional safeguards.