Dare Babalola
The House of Representatives committee on Public Petition has directed the authorities of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Army to allow family members of terrorism suspect, Ntari Hassan Danladi to meet with the detainee.
Danladi has been in custody since 2021 without trial but his family members and counsel have not had access to him ever since.
The secret police averred that the former National President of the Mumuye Youths was being detained on the lawful order of a court.
He was arrested at the youth wing office of the Mumuye Cultural Development Association at Mile 6 in Jalingo, Taraba State for allegedly belonging to the so-called Middle Belt Ethnic Militia.
However, the committee, chaired by Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, issued the directive on Thursday following the counsel’s application to the suspect, Pius Danda, during the committee’s proceedings.
Danda contended that the continuous detention of Danladi for the past four years constitutes a clear breach of the order of a Federal High Court, which had ordered his release pending trial in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Counsel to the DSS, Emmanuel Dabiri, faulted the claim that access was not granted to Danladi’s council and his family members.
He also disclosed that the DSS had his confessional statement over his involvement in acts of terrorism.
Representatives of the office of the AGF were conspicuously absent during the committee’s proceedings.
The deputy chairman of the committee, who was informed that Danladi was slated to appear in court on the 8th of July this year, therefore adjourned that matter until the 25th of September for further hearing.
According to the DSS, in a letter dated June 14, 2025, its investigation “revealed that Danladi alongside Joshua Njiwa travelled to an IPOB camp situated within a forest in Ozu Abam community, Arochukwu Local Government Area, Abia State, to attend military drills and dry weapon handling using AK-47.”
The DSS further stated that “the Federal Government had, in compliance with an order of Court dated 20th September 2017, declared IPOB a terrorist organisation.”
The DSS claims it obtained valid court orders authorising Danladi’s detention throughout its investigation, stating its actions are lawful and in line with the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Following information that Danladi had been slated to appear in court on July 8, the committee adjourned till September 25 for further hearing.
