The Department of State Services (DSS) has clarified the reason behind its officers’ visit to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja on Monday.
In a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, the DSS explained that, contrary to reports of a raid, the visit was part of a routine investigation. The agency stressed that the actions of its operatives had been 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.”
