DSS officers tortured him while in their custody.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken an unprecedented step by demanding that Khalid Aminu, an #EndBadGovernance protester, retract his claims

of being brutalized while in their custody. Aminu, an engineer by profession, was among several persons arrested in Kano and other parts of the North during the August #EndBadGovernance protests.

After his release, Aminu featured on a Channels Television programme where he alleged that DSS officers tortured him while in their custody. He described the experience as "inhuman" and provided a detailed account of the brutality he suffered.

"What I went through, what we went through was inhuman, I can’t even begin to tell you everything," Aminu said. "On the 3rd (of August), they arrested us at NEPA Roundabout. There and then they started beating us, boots, kicks, and all that. Then they pushed all of us into their Hilux, some into their SUVs, and then we went down to the Command."

"When we got there, the first thing I received was a strong cane, like an armoured cable that they used. If I pull up my chest, you will see. They started beating me, I was flat down and they were blasting me with all forms of sticks, armoured cables, everything you can think of," Aminu told the television station.

However, in a letter dated November 25, 2024, the DSS, through their lawyer, Mohammed Sani Ndanusa, SAN, said Aminu deliberately made the allegations to tarnish the reputation of the security agency. The letter, titled "Re: Allegation of Torture By Department of State Security Officials While Undertaking Custody in Kaduna," stated that Aminu's claims were not only a misrepresentation of the facts but also a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the Department of State Security Services.

The lawyer further told Aminu, "You will agree with us that your above representation has caused our client a lot of embarrassment both within and outside Nigeria," and advised him to "make a retraction and cause same to be published in three widely read newspapers, failure to which we shall be compelled… to initiate legal proceedings against you."

Aminu's torture claim appeared to conflict with those of other protesters who claimed to have been detained alongside him in the same DSS facility in Kaduna. In a recent interview, the protesters told newsmen in Kaduna that they were not tortured while in DSS custody.

The DSS's demand for a retraction has sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning the agency's motives and others criticizing Aminu's allegations. While some have expressed concern that the DSS's actions may be an attempt to silence critics and intimidate others from speaking out, others have argued that Aminu's claims may be exaggerated or fabricated.

The development has also raised questions about the treatment of detainees in DSS custody and the need for greater transparency and accountability within the agency. As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Aminu will respond to the DSS's demands and what implications this may have for the ongoing debate about human rights and accountability in Nigeria.