Seiyun (South24 Center)

The Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Hadramout accused Nation Shield forces on Sunday (February 8) of abducting activist Nasser bin Shaban after raiding his home at dawn in the Bur area of Seiyun city and taking him to an unknown location, in what it said was part of a broader arrest campaign targeting participants in recent protests.

In a statement, the Council said Bin Shaban had taken part in a mass rally held in Seiyun on Friday (February 6), where he read the event’s closing statement rejecting moves to dissolve the STC and reaffirming support for restoring the State of the South. The Council described the raid as a “dangerous violation” of peaceful expression rights and labelled the incident a “terrorist crime,” calling for his immediate release along with other detainees.

Local sources later told South24 that the number of people detained in Seiyun in connection with the protests had risen to 24 individuals, including political activists and participants in the demonstrations. Independent verification of the figure was not immediately possible.

#BREAKING

The STC in Hadramout: The kidnapping of Bin Shaban from his home and taking him to an unknown location is a "terrorist crime," and police methods will not deter us#south24 pic.twitter.com/A7TJPRkNFH

— South24 | English (@South24E) February 8, 2026

The developments came amid heightened security measures across the city. Military forces deployed in the Al-Sahil district from Sunday afternoon following the arrest campaign, while additional military and tribal presence was reported along Airport Street as authorities reinstalled a sign thanking Saudi Arabia that protesters had torn down earlier.

Video footage circulated online showed residents of Al-Sahil rejecting the presence of military vehicles in their neighborhood, reflecting growing tensions between deployed forces and local communities.

Separately, the STC’s Foreign Affairs Authority condemned what it described as the use of live ammunition to suppress peaceful protests in Seiyun and said the detention of activists and leaders constituted a serious human rights violation. It called on international organizations to intervene to investigate the incidents, demanded the immediate release of detainees, and warned authorities they would bear responsibility for the consequences of escalation.

The Authority added that stability in Hadramout requires empowering local Hadrami forces rather than maintaining what it termed control by northern forces.

Meanwhile, Amjad Subaih, the STC media director in Wadi Hadramout, said armored vehicles were stationed outside his home in the city of Tarim, signaling further pressure on local council figures.

#BREAKING

Video: Residents of Al-Suahil neighborhood in Seiyun refuse the presence of military forces and armored vehicles in their area #south24 pic.twitter.com/CAXHOxVhq4

— South24 | English (@South24E) February 8, 2026

The Nation Shield forces had not issued an official response regarding the arrests or the raid operation as of the time of publication.

The unrest follows large protests in Seiyun earlier this month in which thousands of STC supporters demanded the removal of northern forces from Wadi Hadramout and the re-empowerment of local security forces, highlighting mounting tensions over the security and political balance in the region.