NIGERIA: Amnesty International Condemns DSS Detention Of Sani Waspapping Over Social Media Posts

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Amnesty International Nigeria has strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of social media activist Sani Waspapping by the Department of State Services (DSS), describing his continued custody without access to family or lawyers as a violation of his fundamental rights.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the human rights organisation revealed that Sani Waspapping was arrested in Kaduna on Friday, March 6, 2026, and has since been held incommunicado. Amnesty said the detention is widely believed to be linked to his social media commentary on the ongoing war in the Middle East.

“Sani Waspapping is the second person detained by the DSS in connection with the current situation in the Middle East,” the statement read.

“His arrest appears to be a direct response to his exercise of freedom of expression online,” it added.

The group criticised the authorities for denying him prompt access to family members and legal representation, calling it a clear breach of due process and Nigeria’s obligations under domestic and international human rights law.

Amnesty International urged the Nigerian authorities to immediately ensure Sani Waspapping receives adequate legal assistance and family contact, and to either charge him to court with credible evidence or release him unconditionally.

The organisation reiterated that freedom of expression, including on social media, is a protected right and that criticism of foreign conflicts or government positions cannot justify arbitrary arrest or detention.

This case adds to growing concerns over the use of security agencies to suppress online dissent in Nigeria, particularly amid heightened global tensions related to the Middle East conflict. Neither the DSS nor any government spokesperson has publicly commented on the detention as of W

ednesday evening.