DSS Detains ISIS Member Who Wiped His Phone On Sighting Them

A court order to detain a Nigerian, Emmanuel Osase, who is accused of being a member of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria was on Wednesday, obtained by the Department of State Services.

Osase, who was arrested on March 11, was accused of propagating ISIS messages, opposing the democratic system of government in Nigeria, and calling for terrorist attacks on Nigeria and its symbols of sovereignty.

Ahmad Abubakar of the DSS Legal Service Department, Abuja, in an affidavit dated, March 27, said the suspect needed to be detained because his release would jeopardise the DSS investigation.

Abubakar said Osase at the point of arrest, formatted his mobile device to factory settings upon sighting security agents ostensibly to wipe out any suspicious contents on the device and cover up his nefarious activities.

According to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, DSS could detain the suspect for 60 days.

The judge gave the order following an ex parte application, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/409/2024, by a DSS lawyer, A. A. Ugee, who told the court that the matter was brought pursuant to Section 66(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

The DSS lawyer prayed the court for an order enabling the applicant to detain the suspect for 60 days pending the conclusion of investigation.

Justice Ekwo, a vacation judge, in his ruling, granted the application.

He said, “Upon studying the averments in the affidavit, I hereby grant the relief as prayed. “

The judge subsequently adjourned till June 3 for further proceedings.