Prominent Nigerian activists Omoyele Sowore and Deji Adeyanju have publicly mourned and exposed the death of a woman, Calista Ifedi, who reportedly died while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). The DSS has now admitted to her death after years of detention.
A Tragic Admission After Years of Detention
According to detailed accounts shared by human rights campaigner Omoyele Sowore on social media, Mrs. Calista Ifedi was arrested on November 23, 2021. She was taken from her home in Enugu alongside her husband, Sunday Ifedi, for the alleged offence of selling food to members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
From that day, the couple disappeared into the DSS system. Sowore stated that all efforts by advocates and family to secure her release over the subsequent years were completely unsuccessful. The situation took a devastating turn when the DSS recently confirmed that Calista Ifedi had passed away while being held at the notorious Wawa Barracks detention facility.
Neglect and a System Failure
The narrative provided by Sowore paints a picture of severe neglect and a denial of due process. He explained that Mrs. Ifedi's detention was unlawful from the start, as she was never formally charged or brought before a court.
While detained at Wawa Barracks, she reportedly fell ill. Instead of receiving adequate medical attention, her pleas for help were ignored and she was allegedly taunted by officials. Her health deteriorated without intervention, ultimately leading to her death. Shockingly, her husband, who was only released in December 2025, was never informed of her passing. Sowore personally had to call him to deliver the tragic news.
In a separate Facebook post, activist Deji Adeyanju reacted to the report, calling it "extremely tragic and sad." He revealed that when he brought the injustice to the notice of the current DSS Director-General and petitioned for her release, it was discovered that she had already died long before the advocacy efforts began. Adeyanju credited the current DG with setting up a committee to review cases of long-stay detainees but lamented that the process remains slow due to bureaucracy at Wawa Barracks.
Calls for Accountability and Systemic Reform
Both activists have used this case to demand sweeping changes and accountability. Sowore has called for the immediate shutdown of the Wawa Barracks detention facility. He insists that every official involved in the unlawful detention, neglect, and subsequent death of Calista Ifedi must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
He linked this tragedy to the tenure of former DSS Director-General Yusuf Bichi and the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing them of presiding over a system of "unchecked brutality." The core demands now are for the Nigerian state to produce Calista Ifedi's body, conduct an independent autopsy, and deliver justice for what is described as a grave abuse of power and a failure to protect life.
Adeyanju also urged families of other detained Nigerians to come forward and mount pressure, noting that many remain in facilities like Wawa Barracks with their status unknown.
