Dr. Tekena Amieyeofori, a respected journalist and former staff of AIT, has been missing since March 10, 2025. According to multiple reports, he was picked up by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja and has not been seen or heard from since. His alleged crime? Signing a petition that exposed massive corruption in the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The petition, co-authored by Amieyeofori and the Niger Delta Youth Synergy & Co., called out the NUPRC for alleged financial fraud, environmental negligence, and failure in implementing the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Policy. It demanded a forensic audit of the Commission and raised the alarm on revenue leakages worth billions of naira, including over ₦4.9 trillion allegedly diverted into private bank accounts.
But rather than sparking an official investigation, the petition appears to have triggered a crackdown. Amieyeofori and his colleague, Goodluck Braide, were reportedly arrested by DSS operatives shortly after submitting the letter. Since then, Amieyeofori has been held incommunicado — denied access to his family, lawyers, and medical care.
A legal firm representing the family, Steel Attorneys, has petitioned the DSS for his release, citing constitutional and international laws that guarantee the rights of detainees. In their words: “He has been in your custody till date,” the firm wrote, pleading for immediate access and bail.
Another human rights lawyer, M.D. Abubakar, followed up with a sharply worded reminder. He accused the DSS of having a “pattern of unconstitutional detentions” and reminded them that detainees have the right to legal representation under the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the UN Charter.
Despite these letters, the DSS has remained silent. No official charges. No court appearance. No comment.
Critics say this is more than just the case of one journalist. It is a sign of growing intolerance for free speech and public accountability. The petition that landed Amieyeofori in custody exposed not only ecological and financial abuse but also a possible betrayal of the Niger Delta people by an agency meant to regulate and protect their interests.
The Niger Delta Youth Synergy & Co. says it won’t back down. They insist that “governance failure fuels poverty” and that continued silence in the face of abuse only deepens the suffering of already marginalized communities.
“Our lawyers and allies across nine states are on standby,” the group warned. “We will not fold our arms and watch lives destroyed.”
