The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a statement clarifying the nature of its agents’ visit to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja, on Monday. Responding to widespread reports and public concern, the DSS on Tuesday denied allegations that its officers had conducted a raid on the premises.
According to the statement posted on the DSS website, the visit was part of a “routine investigation” and not an aggressive operation as previously reported in various media outlets. The agency emphasized that the actions of its officers have been grossly misinterpreted as harassment and intimidation.
The statement read,
“The Department of State Services has been inundated with multiple enquiries on its alleged unlawful invasion of SERAP offices in Abuja and Lagos. “This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent. For the records, a team of two unarmed Service operatives were lawfully detailed on a routine investigation to the 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 assures of in-depth investigation of these malicious contents, it sues 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.”
