The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a response regarding the recent invasion of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
On Monday, The New Daily Prime reported that SERAP, via its official X page, stated that DSS personnel unlawfully occupied its Abuja office and demanded to meet with its directors.
In its Tuesday report, The Cable newspaper stated that the DSS denied any illegal activity during the alleged raid but did not provide any details concerning the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
This newspaper reported that the DSS yielded to pressure from labor and other civil society organizations by releasing Mr. Ajaero late Monday night.
The NLC had given the DSS a 24-hour ultimatum to free Mr. Ajaero, threatening industrial action if the deadline was not met.
In a Tuesday statement, the DSS clarified that the reason its officers entered the SERAP office in Abuja was to conduct a routine investigation. However, this newspaper was unable to clarify whether the recent routine check specified by the DSS is related to Mr. Ajaero, who was recently detained while en route to an international conference in London on Monday, September 9, 2024.
The DSS emphasizes that, “This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent. For the record, a team of two unarmed Service operatives was lawfully detailed to conduct a routine investigation of the SERAP office in Abuja. This has sadly been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials.” The Service further wishes to state that such official inquiries and liaison are traditional and do not amount to illegality or a raid. While it assures an in-depth investigation of these malicious claims, it calls for citizens’ participation in national security management.”
The DSS asked the public to disregard “false narratives,” restating its commitment to professionalism in discharging its core mandate with the utmost dedication and integrity.
Earlier, this newspaper reported that human rights lawyer Femi Falana condemned the DSS invasion of the SERAP office.
Mr. Falana condemned the DSS’s actions and urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that those responsible for the invasion of SERAP’s office are prosecuted
