August 05, (THEWILL) – The Department of State Services (DSS) has contested charges that it detains people on the orders of the powerful.
DSS said this while reacting to an opinion in a newspaper where it was alleged that hundreds of innocent citizens are presently languishing in Police and DSS detention centres across Nigeria, following arrests ordered by powerful men and women.
Dr. Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, in a statement on Thursday titled: “Re: Beyond Abba Kyari’s Indictment”, said the opinion written by one Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi was inciting, misinforming and should be introverted.
The statement reads in part: “Dear Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, without efforts to join issues with you on an opinion expressed by you in your article of 5th August 2021 on the above subject matter, the SSS takes exceptions to the part that states that ‘Hundreds of innocent citizens are currently languishing in Police and State Security Services (SSS) detention centres across the country, following arrests ordered by powerful men and women.
“This isn’t true. I don’t speak for the Police, but it’s certain that no Nigerian or anyone for that matter is in the SSS/DSS custody on the order(s) of private citizens or persons. The SSS has a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) on the criminal justice administration.
“The SSS shouldn’t be run down given the slightest opportunity. It’s unacceptable for a respectable columnist of your experience and status to make a sweeping statement like the one herein. It’s misleading, inciting, denigrating, demeaning, misinforming, and should be withdrawn.
“Thank you Sir as you correct this erroneous impression created about the service.”
