The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has debunked allegations made by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) against the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding an alleged invasion and attempted arrest of SERAP officials.
At a press conference in Abuja, NCSCN Executive Director Blessing Akinlosotu stated that the council conducted an independent investigation into the incident and found no evidence of invasion, intimidation, or occupation of SERAP’s office by the DSS.
Akinlosotu described the reports of the incident as “twisted” and “shrouded with untrue and misleading narrations” capable of inciting public contempt and defaming DSS management.
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According to Akinlosotu, the NCSCN investigation revealed that the DSS visit to SERAP’s office was a routine familiarization visit intended to introduce the new DSS leadership to the SERAP team.
“We were shocked to discover that a reputable organization like SERAP could issue such a distorted and untrue account of a traditional routine visit and harmless interaction between some junior DSS officers and SERAP staff,” Akinlosotu said.
The NCSCN leader commended the new DSS leadership under Mr. Tosin Ajayi, describing him as a gentleman, a professional, and a security expert with the necessary and adequate experience.
Akinlosotu called on SERAP to provide substantiated evidence and convincing proof of the allegations against the DSS, while also urging the DSS to provide video and audio recordings of the engagement, as is the global best practice among security agencies.
The council appealed for calm among its affiliate members and other organizations, urging both SERAP and the DSS to clarify the controversy.
The incident has generated widespread controversy, with many civil society organizations and human rights groups condemning the alleged actions of the DSS.
However, the NCSCN investigation revealed that the incident was not as reported and that SERAP’s allegations were exaggerated and misleading.
The NCSCN has urged caution and restraint, calling on all parties to avoid inciting public contempt and defaming DSS management.
The council also emphasized the importance of maintaining a harmonious working relationship between civil society organizations and security agencies in the interest of national peace and stability.
In a statement, DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya confirmed that the visit to SERAP’s office was a routine familiarization visit and that no intimidation or harassment took place.
Afunanya described the allegations made by SERAP as “unfortunate” and “misleading,” urging the public to disregard them.
The SERAP leadership has yet to respond to the NCSCN’s investigation and findings.
The incident highlights the need for caution and restraint in reporting sensitive security matters and the importance of verifying facts before making public allegations.
It also underscores the importance of maintaining a harmonious working relationship between civil society organizations and security agencies in the interest of national peace and stability.
