ABUJA: The Department of State Services (DSS) has described allegations by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that its officers had taken control of its Abuja and Lagos offices, as “inaccurate and misleading”.
The secrete police said in a statement on Tuesday that it became necessary to clear the air as it had been inundated with multiple enquiries on the matter.
The DSS said its officers had visited SERAP’s offices on a routine investigation, adding that its officers were not there to harass anyone.
It said “This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent. For the records, a team of two unarmed Service operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to SERAP office in Abuja, which has sadly been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful, harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials.
The Service further wishes to state that such official enquiries and liaison are traditional and do not in any way amount to illegality or raid.”
While it assured of an in-depth investigation of the allegation, it sued for citizens’ participation in national security management.
“The DSS, therefore, urges the public to disregard these false narratives as it restates its commitment to utmost professionalism in the discharge of its core mandate,” it said.
SERAP in a statement on its X handle on Monday, described the action as an ‘unlawful occupation’. SERAP said the officers were demanding to meet with the organisation’s directors.
It called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the “harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians. This narrative’s intent is misleading and inaccurate,” it stated.
For the record, two unarmed officers of the Service were lawfully sent to the SERAP office in Abuja as part of a normal inquiry. However, this information has been misconstrued and twisted to imply that the officers were being threatened and harassed illegally.
The DSS further wishes to clarify that these official inquires and intermediaries are standard and do not imply any unlawful activity or raids.
It sued to include civilians in national security management, but it also promised a thorough investigation of the allegation.
The DSS restated its commitment to the highest level of professionalism in carrying out its primary objective and urged the public to disregard these deceitful narratives.
In a declaration on its statement reads, “Officers from Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors.
“President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians.”
SERAP said that the invasion of its office followed its call on President Tinubu and his government to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol and to ensure the prompt and thorough investigation of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPCL.
It quoted human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana to have said: “We condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office. The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP’s office in the name of the government.
Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”
SERAP’s statement, read in part: “The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS and the harassment and intimidation of our staff members is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.”
“The increasing effort of persecution and intimidation towards non-governmental groups and human rights advocates who have shown incredible courage in their advocacy for human rights undermines the ability of Nigerian victims of human rights abuses and violations to seek justice, harms the most insecure, and fosters an environment in which those who infringe human rights are treated with impunity.”
It is the responsibility of this government to help and defend human rights organizations and civil society groups. Our serious worries are the increasing restrictions on public space and the harsh suppression of Nigerians’ human rights.
“SERAP must be protected and our staff members must not be subjected to harassment or intimidation by Nigerian authorities.”
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It is essential that President Tinubu gives the necessary orders to the relevant authorities so they can look into the invasion of our offices as soon as possible and then prosecute those responsible.
“The Nigerian government needs to give SERAP the freedom to execute our mandates.”
“”This narrative’s intent is misleading and inaccurate,” it stated. For the record, two unarmed officers of the Service were lawfully sent to the SERAP office in Abuja as part of a normal inquiry. However, this information has been misconstrued and twisted to imply that the officers were being threatened and harassed illegally.
The Service further wishes to clarify that these official inquires and intermediaries are standard and do not imply any unlawful activity or raids.
It sued to include civilians in national security management, but it also promised a thorough investigation of the allegation.
The DSS restated its commitment to the highest level of professionalism in carrying out its primary objective and urged the public to disregard these deceitful narratives.
While some may not like to hear some of the things SERAP has said, this in no way justifies the invasion of our office and harassment and intimidation of our staff members. The authorities should show commitment to protecting the right to freedom of expression and guarantee conditions for civil society to flourish.”
