Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested prominent Kano-based activist Zubair Zubair, a vocal critic of the Tinubu-led administration.
Zubair was apprehended in Kano and subsequently transported to Abuja for further questioning.
Zubair’s lawyer, Barrister Harun Magashi, confirmed the arrest, revealing that his client had been handed over to the Nigerian Police Headquarters in Abuja after initially being held by the DSS in Kano. “Zubair was arrested yesterday by the DSS in Kano. Initially, he was held by the DSS, but they handed him over to the police in Abuja,” Magashi explained.
When asked about the reason for the arrest, Magashi stated that the family had yet to be informed of any formal charges. He speculated, however, that the arrest could be linked to Zubair’s active involvement in the End Bad Governance protests and his outspoken criticisms of the current government.
Nura Muhammad, another activist and close associate of Zubair, also confirmed the arrest and expressed his concern over the implications. “Zubair has been fearless in his advocacy for the people and has consistently criticized the policies of the Tinubu administration. His arrest does not come as a surprise, but it is a clear attack on free speech,” Muhammad said.
Zubair is an active member of the Take It Back Movement, an organization known for its vocal stance on civic issues and political change in Nigeria. His arrest has sparked outrage within the activist community, with calls for his immediate release mounting from Kano and beyond. Advocates are raising alarms about the growing crackdown on dissent and the erosion of free speech in the country.
As of press time, efforts to reach the DSS and Police Headquarters for comment have been unsuccessful.
