The Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement is demanding the release or arraignment of Rabiu Habibu Wanka, a Bauchi resident who has spent about nine months in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) after being arrested a day before his daughter's wedding. The arrest occurred on January 8, 2026, in the Kuntum area of Bauchi, shortly after afternoon prayers, and no public reason has been given for his detention.
Arrest and Family Ordeal
Wanka was taken by DSS operatives in front of his children and neighbours, according to his family, who said they were not told why he was being detained or what offence he was suspected of. The operatives reportedly searched the house and seized personal belongings, including mobile phones, identity cards, ATM cards, a laptop, and other documents. As a result, Wanka could not attend his daughter's wedding the following day.
A relative told The Conclave that the operatives did not provide any reason for the detention. The family has been left without answers, and the arrest has had a profound impact on their lives, as they struggle to understand the basis for his continued custody.
Legal Challenge and Court Proceedings
The case reached the Federal High Court in Bauchi, where Wanka's lawyer, Barrister Kamal Isa, filed a fundamental-rights enforcement suit challenging the legality of the detention. At proceedings reported on May 14, 2026, the court was told that Wanka had spent four months in DSS custody without being arraigned or formally charged. Isa argued that the DSS had acknowledged that Wanka remained in its custody despite no charges being filed.
Isa contended that the prolonged detention violated Wanka's fundamental rights and the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which governs detention. He asked the court to order Wanka's release, stating that the detention period had exceeded permissible legal limits. Alternatively, he requested that the court direct the DSS to release Wanka or arraign him within seven days of the judgment.
Demand for Release or Trial
The case was adjourned until June 11, 2026, for judgment. However, public reporting does not establish what happened on that date or whether the court subsequently ordered Wanka's release or arraignment. The DSS has not publicly stated a reason for Wanka's arrest, and its media archive contains statements on other 2026 cases but none addressing his.
The TIB Movement has taken up the case, demanding that the DSS either release Wanka or bring him before a court to face any charge. The development has renewed questions about prolonged detention without trial, as Wanka's case highlights a basic legal issue: if authorities have a case, why has he not been formally arraigned, and if there is no charge, why does he remain in detention?
As of the latest publicly available information, the DSS has not publicly explained the reason for Wanka's arrest or provided an account of his continued detention. The case remains unresolved, with the TIB Movement pressing for a legal resolution.
