The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petition yesterday asked the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army to grant access to family members and counsel to a terrorism suspect, Ntari Hassan Danladi, said to have been detained since 2021 without trial.

But the DSS denied refusing to grant access to the family members and counsel to the suspect.

The secret police averred that Danladi was being detained on the lawful order of a court.

Danladi, a the former National President of the Mumuye Youths, was reportedly arrested at the youth wing office of the Mumuye Cultural Development Association at Mile 6 in Jalingo, Taraba State, on the allegations of belonging to the Middle Belt Ethnic Militia.

He is said to have remained in custody in the past four years without formal charges filed against him by both the DSS and the office of the Attorney General of the federation (AGF).

The House of Representatives committee’s directive followed a petition written by Danladi’s counsel, Pius Danda, during the proceedings of the committee.

The committee alleged that the continuous detention of Danladi for four years was a breach of the order of a Federal High Court that he should be release pending when he would be duly tried in a court of competent jurisdiction.

The lawyer claimed that the DSS and the Army denied him and the detainee’s family access to him, despite the court order.

But Major Y. Piwa distanced the Nigerian Army from the detention of Danladi and asked the lawmakers to remove the name of Nigerian Army from the matter.

Counsel to the DSS, Emmanuel Dabiri, recalled that Danladi was arrested on May 6, 2021, adding that the DSS was in possession of his confessional statement over his involvement in acts of terrorism.

Dabiri faulted the claim that Danladi’s lawyer and members of his family were not allowed to have access to him.

The DSS, in a letter, dated June 14, 2025, said 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”.

It added: “The Federal Government had, in compliance with an order of court, dated September 20, 2017, declared IPOB a terrorist organisation.”

The secret police also claimed that it obtained valid court orders authorising Danladi’s detention throughout its investigation.

It said its actions were 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. (The Nation, but headline rejigged)