According to the source, officials had initially requested that the family submit a formal letter to request visitation, which they promptly did.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied access to the detained factional president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Atiku Abubakar Isah, amid growing concerns about his worsening health condition.

Despite repeated pleas, Isah’s wife, infant child, and other family members were barred from seeing him at the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Monday, a family source told SaharaReporters. 

According to the source, officials had initially requested that the family submit a formal letter to request visitation, which they promptly did.

“We submitted the letter as directed and waited for several hours outside the facility,” the source said.

 “But we were not allowed to see him or even enter the premises.”

The continued denial of access has raised fears about Isah’s health and the conditions of his detention. 

The source explained that human rights lawyer, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, tried to speak with the Director of Operations, but the request was not approved.

The family source told SaharaReporters that they eventually left the DSS headquarters without seeing Atiku.

The source said Atiku’s wife called one of the DSS officers to inform them that she was present, but the officer told her to wait for approval before they could go inside or see her brother. 

However, all their efforts were in vain.

According to the source, "Atiku's wife, her baby, one of his blood brothers, and I went to the DSS headquarters. We got there, and they asked us to write a letter and submit it first, which we did, but we could not see him or even go inside.

"Barrister Deji tried to speak to the Director of Operations, but they did not approve it. We left without seeing him or being allowed inside. 

"Atiku's wife called one of the DSS officers to inform him that she was around, and he told her to wait for the approval before we could go in or see him. Hopefully, they grant it before the weekend," the source added.

On May 20, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that a  self-proclaimed official of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) openly admitted that Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah, the embattled NANS President, was beaten up by the students.
In a video posted online, the NANS official, Yusuff Decimal, brazenly confirmed the assault, throwing further light on the escalating internal crisis plaguing the students body in which Seyi, son of President Bola Tinubu, has also been indicted.

Two persons appeared in the threat video, with the other personality beside Decimal identified as Adesakin Adefemi who actually uploaded the video.

Speaking directly about a social media activist, Martins Otse, otherwise known as VeryDarkMan, Yusuff, the NANS official, who spoke in Pidgin, had said: “VeryDarkMan, I came here because of you. Let me tell you this, our NANS President is Olushola Oladoja. He is the elected president.

Number 2, Seyi Tinubu is not part of us. He is not a comrade. He is not a student. Nothing concerns Seyi Tinubu. NANS is not a party, no be APC, no be PDP. Nah you Dey follow APC, nah you Dey follow PDP. Nah you know how you Dey get your money, how you Dey make your money.

"No carry yourself come NANS. NANS go beat you. Go ask Atiku, National Association of Nigerian Students beat am. Nah them beat am. Because e dey impersonate. Nah NANS beat am, he no concern Seyi Tinubu. Why you Dey mention Seyi Tinubu?”

The NANS official also issued veiled threats to human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

“And Sowore, we go mend you and all the social media una dey do, make una dey use am chop. No carry your issues come, NANS.”

SaharaReporters had reported that the NANS, with backing from Seyi Tinubu and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), plotted an attack on human rights activist, Sowore.

Sources familiar with the matter had revealed covert meetings held between Seyi Tinubu and some NANS leaders to coordinate an attack on Sowore, with the reported involvement of DSS operatives.

The plan allegedly involved mobilising political thugs in retaliation for SaharaReporters’ consistent exposure of political misconduct.

SaharaReporters also reported in April how Comrade Atiku Abubakar Isah was brutally attacked during the NANS inauguration ceremony at The Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, Abuja.

Thugs allegedly loyal to Seyi Tinubu reportedly stormed the venue wielding guns and cutlasses, disrupting the event, injuring attendees, and robbing several participants of their belongings.