Ngozi James
The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has said it does not abduct citizens, but arrests people in line with the law.
The service said this while reacting to reports credited to Amnesty International (AI) stating that it abducts innocent Nigerians under Buhari regime.
The DSS, in a statement on Wednesday signed by its spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunanya dismissed the report as a make-up narrative designed to bring it to disrepute. The Service said it only arrests when, where and if necessary.
“Whether reported by Peoples Gazette or Amnesty International, 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,” the statement read.
“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,” it added.
The DSS said it is law abiding and committed to the protection of citizens and sensitive government installations, and pledged to continue to discharge its mandate of intelligence collection and timely dissemination of same to relevant action agencies and stakeholders.
The Service, further warned the publisher of Peoples Gazette, Samuel Ogundipe to, for the umpteenth time, desist from “these deplorable acts against the peace and security of the nation.”
It also urged media practitioners tp rise above parochial considerations, sanitise its fold and fish out quacks among them.