The Department of State Security, alias SSS, has remained evasive on the whereabouts of Yusuf Onimisi Siyaka, a Nigerian citizen who witnessed the March 30 deadly gun-battle that rocked the headquarters of the SSS and posted pictures of the incident on twitter.
Mr. Siyaka’s friends on Twitter Wednesday night raised the alarm that they had not heard from him since the day of the incident and that they were suspicious he was being held by the State Security Service.
Mr. Siyaka (@Ciaxon) has not tweeted since March 30, the day of the incident, and there has been no activity on his Facebook page since March 20.
The guy that posted live pictures on SSS/Boko Haram ‘Jail break’ has been arrested, nd every1 is keeping quiet? @ogundamisi @PremiumTimesng
— neo thinker (@neoefiong) April 9, 2014
, a commentator, who goes by the name Neo Thinker (@neoefiong), tweeted on Wednesday night.
That quickly set Twitter abuzz with several Nigerian users of the micro-blogging site challenging the SSS to explain the whereabouts of Mr. Siyaka and possibly release him without delay.
PREMIUM TIMES began to consistently telephone the spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, at 10.26 p.m. on Wednesday.
When she did not answer or return the calls, we sent her a text message seeking comment at 10.31 p.m. Wednesday.
She is yet to respond to the enquiry and has declined to answer or return another round of calls to her between 11 a.m and 12:46 p.m. on Thursday.
While the agency believed to be holding him has remained quiet, Nigerian bloggers and activists have begun an intensive push for Mr. Siyaka’s release, with some organizing for a “physical campaign” to press authorities to act.
“If we are all scared and quiet, the Abacha tendency in our government will arise again,” a social media activist, Babatunde Rosanwo, said. “Yesterday, they came for @ciaxon. Today, they will come for you. By tomorrow, they will have all of us.”
Ayo Sogunro, a Lagos-based lawyer, quoted family members as saying he (Mr. Siyaka) had not been seen for 10 days.
“Isiaka’s (Siyaka) last known communication was a series of tweets on the attempted Boko Haram escape from SSS custody on March 30,” Mr. Sogunro said. “Attempts by Isiaka’s brother to get information from his workplace were rebuffed—in compliance with “orders from above.”
A former Vice President of the World Bank, Oby Ezekwesili, has also taken to Twitter to call for Mr. Siyaka’s release.
She said in a series of tweets:
“From the lay citizens’ perspective, @ciaxon ‘s tweets were a model of citizen’s adoption of social media to I-report and inform the public..
“If indeed there are legitimate Intelligence questions resulting from @ciaxon ‘s tweets of that day, DSS should convey to family/public….
“@ciaxon tweets of pictures he took close to the scene of DSS attack may raise Intelligence questions but Agency should do so transparently!
“Since the DSS Spokeswoman merely said she could not confirm @ciaxon was with them, we now ask that everything be done by DSS to ascertain…
“Our society is now too brittle and fragile. So, government and its agencies ought to act wiselyACT to not worsen situation. Help find @ciaxon now please!
“DSS must keep improving its legitimacy in our democracy by acting and being always seen by citizens to act to protect their rights.
“The context that surrounds @ciaxon ‘s disappearance links too much to attack of our DSS. It is imperative that DSS should actively respond!”
Below are the photographs posted by Mr. Siyaka on the day of the gun-battle.
Tho I couldn’t take a clear picx! But one of the attackers is caught and shot! Not confirmed dead yet! pic.twitter.com/WKcEuDgg2N
— Yoosooph (@ciaxon) March 30, 2014
I just gve ds one water make him drink! pic.twitter.com/m2OwAkpbjW
— Yoosooph (@ciaxon) March 30, 2014
The soldiers are advancing twds em, and they are just trying! Pray for them and we wey dey hide! pic.twitter.com/q2DaYorfMl
— Yoosooph (@ciaxon) March 30, 2014
Presidential aide taking control… pic.twitter.com/0kkmq1MWJz
— Yoosooph (@ciaxon) March 30, 2014
Serious cover by our soldiers ryt now! pic.twitter.com/MeTAH9AoZr
— Yoosooph (@ciaxon) March 30, 2014
Our soldiers taking cover from the invaders/attackers! pic.twitter.com/EeYqnLZyrc
— Yoosooph (@ciaxon) March 30, 2014
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