Tension gripped the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport as popular activist and fierce government critic, Bello Galadanchi, widely known as Dan Bello, was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) shortly after disembarking from a flight from China.
Sources at the airport confirmed that the outspoken activist, renowned for his relentless criticism of Northern political elites and the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was swiftly picked up by security agents upon arrival.
The arrest sparked immediate concern among civil society actors and supporters of the controversial figure, many of whom took to social media to demand his release.
However, in a dramatic twist, Dan Bello was released within hours following what insiders described as “special interventions” from powerful quarters. Though details of the intervention remain unclear, it is believed to have involved influential political and diplomatic figures.
While the DSS has yet to officially comment on the incident, the brief detention is already generating buzz across political and activist circles, with many questioning whether it was an attempt to silence a persistent voice of dissent.
Dan Bello has long been a thorn in the side of Northern establishment figures, frequently accusing them of betrayal, corruption, and misgovernance. His return to Nigeria, especially after months abroad, was widely anticipated by his followers.
As reactions continue to pour in, many are watching to see if the brief arrest signals the beginning of a larger crackdown—or merely a misstep quickly corrected under pressure.
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