Nothing wrong in DSS’s visit to SERAP office – Group

On Monday, personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), visited the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), in Abuja. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about the government’s commitment to protecting human rights and freedom of expression. SERAP, a human rights organization, had earlier raised the alarm via […]

On Monday, personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), visited the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), in Abuja.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about the government’s commitment to protecting human rights and freedom of expression.

SERAP, a human rights organization, had earlier raised the alarm via social media, condemning the invasion and calling on President Tinubu to intervene.

Weighing in, Blessing Akinlosotu, Executive Director of NCSCN, during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja, said it conducted a verification probe around the office of SERAP as well as visited the FCT Command of the DSS to get a balanced and objective version of the story, “and was shocked at the sensationalism at which the incidence has been presented or reported to the public.”

He said: “The story from our findings has not only been twisted, but has been shrouded with untrue and misleading narrations capable of inciting public contempt and defaming the DSS Management in the FCT.

“In as much as we acknowledge some occasion of overzealous and non-professional conducts by some Officers of the DSS in isolated occasions in the past. It is, however, necessary to always set records straight and presenting matters at they are by handling issue separately and within context.

“Matters bothering on Security are sensitive and could be volatile in nature. Any form of misrepresentation could lead to social unrest or disruption of peace and order in the society, which we must all collectively guard against at this crucial stage of our history and polity.”

He continued: “For us at NCSCN we see nothing wrong in a familiarization visit, even in invitations to any individual or organization by the any security agency in Nigeria, provided such visit or invitations are executed in a most civil manner and in full compliance with the Nigerian Constitution and Service Rules of Engagement.

“As conscience of the People, all Civil Society and Human Rights Organizations in the country must strive to live above board, and refrain from the temptation of exaggeration of stories and distortions of facts. We must endeavour to present matters as they are at all time, even when it disfavours us. Civil Society and Human Rights Organisations must never reduce selves to peddlers of fake news, instruments of institutional blackmails or agents of lawlessness.”