Public outrage has trailed the shocking revelation that Mrs. Calista Ifedi, a woman arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2021 over alleged links to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), died while in custody.
The disclosure, first made public by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, has sparked widespread condemnation across Nigeria’s social media space.
Sowore, in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, accused the DSS of gross abuse of power and human rights violation, alleging that Mrs. Ifedi died in the agency’s custody after being unlawfully detained for years.
According to him, the Enugu-based food vendor was arrested for allegedly selling meals to persons suspected of belonging to IPOB — a group proscribed by the Nigerian government.
He revealed that the DSS’s recent admission confirmed the long-suspected tragedy, noting that the agency had concealed her death from family members for over two years.
Sowore described the case as “a tragic reflection of state impunity,” citing it as evidence of the government’s failure to uphold justice, human dignity and the right to life.
Mrs. Ifedi and her husband, Mr. Sunday Ifedi, were reportedly arrested at their Enugu residence on November 23, 2021, and whisked away to the DSS headquarters in Abuja before being transferred to the Wawa Barracks detention facility.
While Mr. Ifedi regained his freedom in December 2025, he disclosed that the last time he saw his wife was in March 2022, after their transfer to the military facility where they were separated and denied further contact.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International Nigeria, have been consistent in demanding justice for detainees allegedly held without trial at Wawa Barracks.
Sowore claimed that these groups’ persistent advocacy unveiled Mrs. Ifedi’s fate, revealing that she had fallen ill while in custody but was denied medical attention until her death. Her body, according to reports, has not yet been released to her family.
The revelation has since triggered a wave of outrage online, with many Nigerians expressing anger and grief.
Reflecting the swell of emotion, X user Ikenna Okoro lamented that “the DSS has yet again taken another innocent life,” while another commentator, Obiorah Otu, described the incident as “an indictment of a system that chose impunity over law.”
They warned that the arbitrary detention of citizens for mere associations or business transactions could breed resentment and further erode public trust in state institutions.
Other users echoed similar sentiments, condemning what they termed the continued persecution of ordinary citizens under the guise of national security.
“This is heartbreaking. Imagine how lives are wasted in Nigeria for reasons that don’t make sense,” wrote one user identified as Kingprince, while another commenter stated bluntly, “These men really treated Igbos badly.”
Amid growing calls for accountability, human rights advocates have demanded an independent investigation into Mrs. Ifedi’s death, the release of her remains to her family, and the prosecution of DSS officials implicated in the matter.
Civil society groups have also renewed demands for the immediate closure of the Wawa Barracks detention facility, long accused of housing detainees under inhumane conditions and without legal recourse.
Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the right to life and sets out limited circumstances where life may lawfully be taken.
It states that every person has a right to life and that no one shall be intentionally deprived of life except in execution of a court sentence for a criminal offence of which the person has been found guilty in Nigeria.
Section 33(1)provides that every person has a right to life and that intentional deprivation of life is only lawful when it is the execution of a court sentence for a criminal offence for which the person has been duly convicted in Nigeria.
This places a constitutional duty on the state and individuals not to unlawfully take life, making the right to life one of the fundamental rights in Chapter IV of the Constitution.
It is noteworthy that legal commentary and case law in Nigeria describe the right to life as the most fundamental right because other rights can only be enjoyed by someone who is alive.
Some analysis argue that “life” under Section 33 means more than mere physical existence and extends to a dignified and meaningful life, linking it to related rights such as dignity, security, and a decent environment.