- * Dismisses Publication As ' False, Malicious'
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11
The Department of State Services (DSS) has dismissed as false, an online publication authored by one Adio Oluwole Bashir who purported to be a former staff of the Service.
He claimed to have led the team that arrested the suspected killers of David Imoh, a sound engineer allegedly murdered on May 12, 2022, at Lekki, Lagos State. Bashir further alleged that the suspects who were of Hausa origin were exchanged with Christians.
But, in a swift reaction, the State Security Service, in a brief statement on Monday, May 23rd, 2022 by its spokesman, Dr. Peter Afunnanya, denied that Adio Oluwole Bashir is "neither a serving nor a retired staff on its roll. Besides, his writing style and use of paraphernalia gave him out as fake and an impostor".
Dr Afunnanya also stated that findings by the DSS authorities, however, revealed that the alleged aim of Bashir "is to ignite an ethno-religious conflict. His co-conspirators are elements of separatist groups who are desirous of achieving the same objective as well as pitting security agencies against one another".
The DSS reputation manager, Afunnanya, pointed out that "the Lagos State Police Command has issued an unambiguous statement on the entire episode. The Command’s clarification should guide public understanding of what actually transpired. Dragging the DSS which never participated in the operation at Lekki into his skewed account exposes the lies and intentions of Adio Oluwole Bashir and his cohorts.
The DSS states that "the write-up is completely false", and frowns at what it described as the calculated effort to use its name for malicious purposes. It, therefore, requests the public to disregard the misleading narrative.
"The Service also warns those bent on throwing the country into violence to retrace their steps and give peace a chance".
While it reaffirms its commitment to continue to work with sister agencies to ensure lasting peace in the country, the Security Service said it will also not hesitate "to bring to book those determined to break the law", Dr Afunnanya maintains. NNL.
