Tag: The Department of State Services (DSS)

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released two reporters of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, Plateau State, wrongfully arrested during the visit, on Saturday, of President Bola Tinubu, who was in the state for the burial of mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwadta Goshwe.

According to a credible security source, on hearing that some overzealous operatives had arrested Ms. Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, who work for the radio station,

the Director-General, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, ordered their immediate release. 

According to the source, the Service also immediately contacted the national president of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ),  Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, and conveyed the DG’s apologies.lesde

Read Also: Surulere Connect Global commemorate Nigeria at 65

“The Director assured the NUJ President that the new DSS leadership treasures the importance of a free press in a democracy, and has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. He further assured the NUJ President that any officer found culpable will be appropriately sanctioned. 

“The new DG is correcting the wrongs he inherited. One of them is overzealousness. This is why the new DG has not failed to admit so whenever the Service makes mistakes. We are witnesses to several instances when the Service apologized and even compensated victims of wrongful arrests.

“The DG is an absolute lover of human rights and press freedom. You may recall that sometime ago, the DSS DG apologized to the management of TVC over the alleged harassment and intimidation of a reporter,” added the source.

In fulfillment of a promise to give free medical services to a Sokoto businessman accidentally shot during an operation, the Department of State Services (DSS) has invited the victim to its hospital in Abuja.

In mid-March, the DSS Director- General, Tosin Ajayi, approved the payment of N10 million damages awarded by a court to the businessman six years earlier. To compensate for time lost, the DG handed the businessman an additional ₦10 million, bringing the total sum to N20 million.

At the time, Ajayi directed the DSS hospital to officially integrate the businessman into the Services’ medical care system, which would enable him to enjoy free medical services anytime he so desired.

A security source said the businessman arrived in the hospital “a few days ago, and has been undergoing free medical tests and treatment from the hospital’s best doctors.”

He said; “True to the DG’s directive, the man has been in the VIP ward which, of course, is fully air-conditioned. They have been running a series of checks and giving him round-the-clock medical attention, in order to make him regain full control of his limbs. I even understand the DG asked that he be fed for free.”

Read Also: Nigeria, Ghana, others launch single African Air market

In 2016, during a pre-dawn operation to arrest a suspected gunrunner in Jos, Plateau State, DSS operatives mistakenly shot and injured the businessman who incidentally bears the same name with the suspected gunrunner. The gunrunner was eventually arrested.

 Two years after the shooting, in 2018, the businessman, through his lawyer, Idris Akibu, approached a Federal High Court in Bauchi. Delivering judgement on the matter with suit number FHC/J/CS/18/2018, the court, presided by Justice Muhammed Shittu Abubakar, ordered the DSS to pay ₦10 million in damages to the injured businessman.

“This is the third DG since this unfortunate case of mistaken identity happened.  We were very happy when our new DG directed us to pay the money. He even added another ₦10 million to the victim’s money. It goes to show that, not only can security agencies be law abiding, we can also be full of the milk of human kindness,” the source declared.

Lagos Assembly crisis: Nobody can tarnish Tinubu’s image, says group

• Lawmakers deny allegations against First Lady

The Department of State Services (DSS) has accused two television stations – Africa Independent Television (AIT) of DAAR Communications Plc, and Channels Television – of allegedly airing false, defamatory, and malicious reports against its activities.

The service said the false reports were based on the presence of its personnel at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday.

The agency, through its lawyer, Chief Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), demanded a retraction and public apology that must be published within seven days, or both criminal and civil lawsuits would be filed against the television stations.

In a letter, dated February 17, 2025, titled: “False, Defamatory and Malicious Publication Concerning the State Security Service (or DSS) Regarding Their Presence at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday February 17, 2025,” Adedipe said the DSS (SSS) denied allegations it invaded the Assembly and attempted to prevent the members of the Assembly and Speaker Mojisola Meranda from entering the chamber for plenary.

The secret police insisted that it was duly invited through a letter by the Deputy Clerk to support the security operatives attached to the Assembly in order to forestall an imminent breakdown of law and order.

Read Also: Airtel Nigeria increases data prices

“However, without any verification of the reason for the presence of our client’s officials at the Lagos State House of Assembly on February 17, 2025, your organisation maliciously and falsely broadcast, both on your news bulletin and print media, that our client had invaded/stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly with a view to preventing the members and speaker from entering the chamber for plenary.

“By this publication, our client, which is a highly responsible and respected organisation, was portrayed as an irresponsible and reckless organisation, which, in a Gestapo manner, invaded/stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to support one of the feuding parties and to desecrate the hallowed chambers.

PDP candidate’s accusation against Abiodun diversionary, says Ogun govt

The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday quizzed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in last year’s general election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu.

It was learnt that Adebutu was invited and quizzed for allegedly mobilising thugs to disrupt the local government election in Iperu Local Government Area.

But Adebutu claimed that some hoodlums attempted to kill his son, prompting an exchange of fire between them and his security detail.

The state’s PDP’s Director of Media and Publicity, Akinloye Bankole, said Adebutu honoured the secret police invitation as a law-abiding citizen.

Earlier, the state government said Adebutu’s allegation against Governor Dapo Abiodun was a tiisue of lies.

Adebutu had told reporters that Governor Abiodun moved around during Saturday’s local government election with armed military personnel and the police to unleash violence on the people.

Read Also: ResQ Health offers free breast cancer screening for 500 women

But a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, described Adebutu as a drowning man who was finding someone to sink with him.

The statement said Ogun State had not witnessed any political violence since Abiodun assumed office, a testament to his peaceful disposition.

The governor’s aide said contrary to Adebutu’s claim, Abiodun had, immediately after voting, headed straight home, where he stayed until the end of the election, and later travelled to Ondo State where the governorship election was taking place.

He accused Adebutu of political thuggery, stressing that contrary to the Electoral Act, he illegally brought in 40 policemen from MOPOL 49 in Lagos and, along with suspected PDP thugs on Okada who went about with guns, cutlasses, and other dangerous weapons, attempting to snatch ballot boxes.