Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS) has admitted that Mrs. Calista Ifedi, who was arrested in 2021, died while in custody at the agency’s Wawa Barracks detention facility.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Sowore said Mrs Ifedi had been under detention since November 2021 for allegedly selling food to members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), an allegation he described as unlawful and a violation of her fundamental rights.
“The Department of State Services has admitted that Mrs Calista Ifedi, who was detained since 2021 for allegedly selling food to IPOB members, died while in custody at Wawa Barracks,” Sowore wrote.
He further alleged that MrMrsfedi was denied due process and adequate medical care during their detention.
“Her detention was unlawful, she was denied due process, and reports indicate she fell ill in custody without receiving adequate medical care,” he said.
According to Sowore, Mrs Ifedi was arrested alongside her husband, Sunday Ifedi, at their residence in Enugu on November 23, 2021. He stated that the couple was later transferred from DSS headquarters to Wawa Barracks in March 2022, where they were separated.
“The last time he saw his wife was in March 2022, when they were taken from DSS headquarters to Wawa Barracks, separated, and never allowed to see each other again,” Sowore said, adding that Mr Ifedi was only released from detention in December 2025.
Sowore said sustained advocacy by rights groups and individuals, including Amnesty International Nigeria and human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, helped to bring public attention to the case.
“It became clear that Mrs Ifedi’s so-called ‘offence’ was that members of IPOB had allegedly bought food at her restaurant in Enugu,” he stated.
He further alleged that while in detention, Mrs Ifedi repeatedly complained of ill health but was ignored by DSS officials.
“Instead of receiving medical care, her repeated complaints were ignored. She was allegedly taunted and left to deteriorate until she died,” Sowore claimed.
He added that Mrs Ifedi’s husband was never informed of her death until he personally reached out to him.
“Tonight, I personally called him to convey this devastating news before making it public,” he said.
Describing the incident as “egregious crimes,” Sowore called for the immediate closure of the Wawa Barracks detention facility and demanded accountability.
“Nigeria must immediately shut down the Wawa Barracks detention facility. Every official involved in the unlawful detention, neglect, and death of Mrs Calista Ifedi must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted,” he said.
Sowore also linked the incident to what he described as a culture of impunity within the DSS during the tenure of former DSS Director-General Yusuf Bichi, accusing the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari of enabling abuses.
“History must not forget, and justice must not be denied,” he declared.
He further demanded that MrsMrsedi’s remains be produced and subjected to a forensic examination.
“Nigeria must produce her dead body, and an autopsy must be carried out to determine the circumstances of her death,” Sowore said.
