- * Allegation Against DSS Baseless, Says Spokesman, Afunnanya
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
Nigeria's prominent Civil Society group, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the National Chapter of Transparency International (TI), Nigeria, have raised the alarm over what they described as an invasion of their Abuja office on Monday December 27, 2021, by those suspected to be operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
This alarm was contained in a letter addressed on Wednesday December 29, 2021, to the Director General of the DSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, by the Executive Director of CISLAC and Head, Transparency International (TI) Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani.
But beyond demanding to see the Chief Security Officer, according to the letter, CISLAC did not specify, in concrete terms, what exactly the alleged State Security operatives came do in their office, or who actually sent them on such mission, and whether they did challenged them on their purpose for the said visit.
CISLAC expressed grave concern to the fact that there was no prio notice of such visit or an invitation or even a pending request from the office of the DG DSS. CISLAC claimed that on arrival at their Utako office Abuja, the suspected DSS operatives lay siege to their premesis and demanded to see the Chief Security Officer of the building.
"On learning about this, our initial thought was that these were individuals masquerading as DSS agents considering the fact that this was not just during the holiday period, but on a day declared as a public holiday by the federal government of Nigeria. This thought was further reinforced by the fact that was no prior notice, invitation or pending request from your office regarding any of such visit.
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"However, when we put a call through to the number dropped with our office security personnel, an individual further confirmed that he was an agent of your agency providing details of his position.
"Sir, considering recent activities of criminals using official security covers to perpetrate wanton criminality in the recent past, we want you to use your good office to investigate those who carried out this visit and for what purpose(s). We will also request that you call these operatives to order and charge them to be civil in their approach and not militarize our nascent democracy.
"At this point, we cannot jump into conclusion as to the exact reasons behind this gestapo approach; however, this kind of unprofessional visits clearly violates existential rights guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and puts the country on a global map of ‘bad policing’ and seen shrinking voices of citizens demanding for good governance in the interest of all.
"Visits like these further feed fears that the country is gradually snowballing into autocracy with the regular abuse of powers from those parading themselves as agents of the state. As an organization, we believe in the rule of law. We have complied with all statutes and thereby have not violated any law.
"We urge you to use your good office to put an end to this trend of shrinking civic space and the ongoing attempt to weaken democratic institutions to which the civil society community represents an aspect. We look forward to your intervention", Rasfanjani stated.
In a swift reaction to a request same Wednesday by a journalist demanding a confirmation of the CISLAC and TI's petition to the DSS boss and whether the alleged invaders were actually operatives of the State Security, spokesman of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunnanya, wondered why his reaction was needed when the report on CISLAC's letter has already been published in the media.
Afunnanya however described the allegation as baseless, lacking on facts. His reaction is captured thus:
"What's your take on the letter? Is it professional or objective journalism to publish the letter before asking for our reaction? What facts does the letter have? Is it enough to conclude that because some people came to a place, therefore they were DSS?
"Had there been similar false alarms against the DSS in the past? Is it possible some acclaimed journalists are fronts for the accusers of the Service? Who could such journalists be serving? Country and people or some individuals and extraneous interests? To each, let good conscience guide, please", Afunnanya stated. NNL.
