By KOLA OYELERE, Kano

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, a former special adviser to the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje. Yakasai was arrested after he called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign if he cannot resolve the persistent insecurity situation facing the country, especially with the abduction of school students in Zamfara State.

Brother of the former aide, Abdullahi Yakasai confirmed the release in a tweet on Monday night.

Recall that the Department of State Services had arrested Yakasai, whose family and friends declared missing on Friday afternoon.

Also, it will be recalled that at the initial stage the DSS denied his arrest.

However, after some time, the security agency admitted doing so which attracted a lot of condemnation.

The Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje had sacked him over what it termed not differentiating personal comments from an official position.

Speaking later, the DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, while confirming Salihu’s detention, denied that the former aide’s arrest was connected to his criticism of the Buhari regime.

The statement from the agency read, “This is to confirm that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai is with the Department of State Services. He is being investigated over issues beyond the expression of opinions in the social media as wrongly alleged by sections of the public.”

The aide had called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led regime to either deal with bandits in the country or resign.

It will be recalled that Tanko-Yakasai was sometime in 2020 suspended from office for several weeks, having earlier criticised Buhari over his failure to tackle the security challenges bedevilling the country. (Nigerian Tribune)

Update news