DSS denies involvement in ‘disappearance of citizens’
Department of State Services (DSS) has denied allegations of involvement in the disappearance of citizens, as the agency debunked claims by the human rights watchdog, Amnesty International (AI) which alleged that innocent Nigerians were being abducted by its operatives under the President Muhammadu Buhari regime.
The security agency described the Amnesty claims as ‘misleading,’ while also stating that the agency’s operations are ‘carried out in line with tenets of democratic ideals.’
Amnesty International had earlier alleged that innocent Nigerians believed to be critical of the President Buhari administration have been disappearing into unknown whereabouts with the active involvement of DSS operatives who abduct them without logical reasons.
“The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to a false publication by an online newspaper, in which it quoted Amnesty International (AI) as stating that SSS abduct innocent Nigerians under Buhari regime. The Service outrightly denies this misleading narrative. It does not abduct Nigerians.
“As part of its enforcement activities, the DSS arrests when, where and if necessary. This is evidently carried out in line with tenets of democratic ideals. At no time has the agency embarked on its actions without following led down procedures in respect of obtaining warrants of arrest or orders for detention from competent legal authorities.
“The claim of abduction or use of enforced disappearances is an absolute lie and a make-up narrative designed to bring the Service to disrepute.
“The DSS is law abiding and committed to the protection of citizens and sensitive government installations. In doing this, it will continue to discharge its mandate of intelligence collection and timely dissemination of same to relevant action agencies and stakeholders.
“Public attention should, however, be drawn to the deliberate and determined efforts of the publisher of Peoples Gazette, Samuel Ogundipe, to use his platform to undermine law and order. He is known to have, on several occasions, engaged in false and distorted publications to disinform the public. He and his cohorts are hereby warned, for the umpteenth time, to desist from these deplorable acts against the peace and security of the nation. It is time for Ogundipe and the likes to choose reason over fatuity; and patriotism over disloyalty and treachery. Their continuous mischievous resolve to use fake news and hate speech to set the country on fire is condemnable.
“Media practitioners in the country should rise above parochial considerations, sanitise its fold and fish out quacks among them. The media can also peer review and embark on self-censorship as part of achieving professionalism in the industry. They must reject the allure of enticement by external forces to use them to instigate violence or undermine government and its institutions. Otherwise, those who run foul of the law must be ready to face justice either now or in the future,” read a statement issued by the DSS through its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, Wednesday.
