DIGITAL and Human rights civil society organisation, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), has accused the Jigawa State Department of State Services (DSS) of intimidation and unprofessional conduct, alleging that one of its program officers was informally summoned for questioning without formal notice following a press conference demanding justice for a rape victim.
CITAD, in a press statement on Thursday by its Executive Director, Y.Z. Ya’u, detailed what it described as a campaign of harassment against its staff member, Mustapha Muhammad, a Programme Officer in Jigawa State.
According to the organisation, the trouble began after CITAD held a press conference on March 10 demanding justice for Walida Abdulhadi, a woman whose case of abduction and repeated rape CITAD has been advocating.
CITAD revealed that Mr. Muhammad has since been subjected to repeated phone calls by DSS officials with the pressure culminating in an informal summons issued via a telephone call instructing him to report to the state DSS headquarters on Friday, March 27, 2026 by 10am.
“It has come to our attention that following our March 10th press conference demanding justice for Walida Abdulhadi, our Programme Officer in Jigawa State, Mustapha Muhammad, has been subjected to repeated phone calls by officials of the Jigawa State Department of State Services (DSS), culminating in an informal summons to report to their office tomorrow, Friday, at 10:00 AM.
“We emphasize that this so-called invitation was communicated solely via phone call, without any formal written notice or clear justification, creating unnecessary pressure and intimidation,” the statement stated in part.
CITAD condemned the absence of formal written communication, emphasising that the lack of a clear justification for the invitation constitutes unnecessary pressure and intimidation.
“The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and human rights across Nigeria. Our work, particularly in protecting vulnerable people, including women and empowering communities, relies on the safety and independence of our staff. It is therefore deeply concerning when those fulfilling these lawful duties are subjected to intimidation or harassment,” Ya’u stressed.
He described the conduct of the DSS as a violation of national regulations and international standards for the protection of civil society actors and warned that the targeting of CITAD’s staff would not deter the organisation’s mission to protect vulnerable children, women, and communities.
In a series of urgent appeals and demands, CITAD called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to directly intervene and direct the DSS to desist from harassing civil society actors.
It also called on the Director-General of the DSS to enforce professionalism and respect for human rights within his personnel, while urging the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, and the National Human Rights Commission to monitor and address what it termed the frequent abuse of human rights by security agencies in Jigawa State.
Other demands include an immediate cessation of intimidation against its staff, adherence to formal and transparent communication in all official engagements, and an investigation into the conduct of the DSS officers involved.
Reaffirming its stance on the original case that sparked the tension, CITAD reiterated that the abductor of Walida Abdulhadi must be investigated and made to face the full weight of the law for abduction and repeated rape.
CITAD urged the public, media, and broader civil society to remain vigilant in support of human rights defenders across Nigeria.
