The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has praised the Department of State Services (DSS) for ordering the release of Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, two reporters with Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, who were detained while covering the funeral of the late mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda.
NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, in a statement on Sunday, said the union welcomed the intervention of the DSS Director-General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, whose directive ensured the journalists were freed without delay.
Marcus and Jang had been held after uploading footage on social media that showed a clash between a cleric and DSS operatives who were restricting entry into the church premises. Security agents had been screening attendees, preventing some pastors from gaining access.
Yahya noted that the DSS boss not only secured their release but also took the unusual step of personally apologising to the union. The statement read in part: “We are encouraged by the decisive intervention of the DSS Director-General, who not only ordered their release but also personally reached out to the Union to tender his apologies. He has also reiterated his directive to DSS operatives to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests.”
He described the gesture as a welcome sign of change in Nigeria’s security culture. “The willingness of the DSS leadership to admit errors, apologise where necessary, and commit to reforms is an important step in strengthening public trust and confidence in the agency,” Yahya added.
The NUJ, while commending the development, urged the DSS and other security outfits to adopt this approach consistently and safeguard the rights of media professionals.
Yahya stressed, “Press freedom is the bedrock of democracy, and journalists must never be treated as adversaries for performing their constitutional duties. We call on the DSS to institutionalise accountability by sanctioning officers whose actions undermine democratic values and constitutional rights.”
He maintained that only by instilling discipline within the ranks could genuine reform be sustained. Yahya further assured that the NUJ remained open to constructive engagement with security agencies to promote professionalism, deepen mutual understanding, and protect both press freedom and national security.
“We urge our members across the country to remain vigilant, courageous, and professional in the discharge of their duties,” the NUJ president said.
