Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The reported arrest of a vocal Kaduna State politician by suspected operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) has triggered widespread concern, with family members and political associates alleging a targeted crackdown on opposition voices ahead of the 2027 general elections. Jonah Bonnet, popularly known as Pompo, was allegedly taken from his residence in Abuja on Tuesday night by individuals who identified themselves as DSS operatives, according to a Facebook post by Marafan Tsoriang, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). The development has since been corroborated by multiple sources, with Bonnet’s brother, Mark Bonnet, confirming the arrest and providing further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the family, Bonnet was arrested at his residence in Abuja at about 8:30 p.m. shortly after returning home. They alleged that operatives moved in immediately after his wife opened the gate and forcefully pulled him from his vehicle. The family further claimed that the operatives appeared to have been tracking him before carrying out the arrest. Marafan Tsoriang, in his Facebook post, expressed concern over the development and criticised those celebrating the reported arrest, describing such reactions as misplaced displays of political loyalty. “Shame. To those celebrating nonsense to prove loyalty, it only reveals how weak and hopeless you're. What is wrong is wrong regardless,” he wrote. He also referenced previous debates surrounding the actions of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, arguing that supporters had consistently maintained that certain controversial decisions were undertaken as part of leadership responsibilities and not necessarily through direct orders.
Bonnet has been a prominent and outspoken critic of the current Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani. He was particularly vocal about the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections in Kaduna State, accusing Governor Sani of imposing candidates despite publicly maintaining that primary elections would be held where aspirants failed to agree on a consensus candidate. Following the controversy, Bonnet resigned from the APC and defected to the NDC, where he emerged as the party’s candidate for the Kaduna State House of Assembly seat representing Kaura Constituency. His arrest comes amid growing concerns over the detention of another government critic, Mycah Dangata, who has reportedly remained in custody for nearly two weeks after a video surfaced in which he urged voters to reject President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sani in the 2027 elections. Dangata, a popular Kaduna-based musician and social media influencer, was reportedly arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, a security outfit launched by the state government in collaboration with security agencies.
The family of Jonah Bonnet has alleged that he is being taken to Kaduna, where he would be detained and arraigned as part of what they described as a broader crackdown on opposition voices. Marafan Tsoriang, a chieftain of the NDC, confirmed that the party was monitoring the situation and would issue an official response. As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the DSS regarding the alleged detention, and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. The reported arrest of Bonnet, coupled with the ongoing detention of Dangata, has fuelled concerns about the shrinking space for political dissent and the use of security agencies to silence critics ahead of the 2027 elections. The story is still developing, and further details are expected as more information becomes available.
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