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.

The family of the factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Atiku Abubakar Isah, has expressed concern over his continued disappearance, accusing the Department of State Services (DSS) of detaining him without access to legal or family representation.

A family member who spoke with SaharaReporters on Monday expressed frustration over Isah’s whereabouts and deteriorating health, stating that all efforts to contact him have failed.

"We can't reach him. Nobody can hear from Isah. Everyone is worried, particularly about his health. DSS are still silent, and nobody has heard from him… that's really bad,” the relative said.

Isah was reportedly attacked in April by a NANS faction backed by Seyi Tinubu during an inauguration in Abuja. Despite public confessions by some of the assailants, he was later picked up by DSS operatives and has not been seen or heard from since.

"What kind of country are we in?" the family member lamented. "Isah, who is a victim of an attack, is now incarcerated, while those who attacked him are walking freely, even after publicly admitting to the assault. Yet DSS has not arrested them but continues to detain Isah, who has committed no crime."

The family is now calling on President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to intervene immediately and secure Isah’s release.

"This is not just a matter of personal concern, it’s a national disgrace. We are urging the Nigerian government to uphold justice and the rule of law by ordering the DSS to release Isah and arrest those responsible for attacking him," the family member said.

Previously, SaharaReporters reported that a self-proclaimed NANS official had openly admitted that students beat up Isah.

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.

Speaking directly about a social media activist, Martins Otse, otherwise known as VeryDarkMan, Yusuff Decimal, who spoke in Pidgin, said: “VeryDarkMan, I came here because of you. Let me tell you this, our NANS President is Olusola Oladoja. He is the elected president. Number two, 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 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 with weapons, disrupting the event, injuring attendees, and robbing several participants of their belongings.