The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed its siege on the offices of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) located in Zone 1, Wuse, Abuja, saying that its operatives were deployed on “routine investigation” which has been interpreted as “unlawful invasion.”
Explaining that the unlawful invasion “narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent,” the secret police noted that its operation at the SERAP office is “are traditional and does not in any way amount to illegality or raid.”
The full statement on its Media Centre dated September 10, 2024 read: “The Department of State Services (DSS) 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 (2) unarmed Service operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to 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 does not in any way amount to illegality or raid.
“While it assures of indept 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.”
The DSS had laid siege on SERAP offices in Abuja few hours after arrest of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero.
SERAP, which is a legal and advocacy organization, said the operatives demanded to see its directors.
In a post on X, it said: “Officers from SSS are presently unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors.
“President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians.”
SERAP on Sunday gave President Tinubu 48 days to reverse the recent hike in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS).
In an open letter dated September 7, 2024, signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said, “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
Reacting to the incident when he appeared on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme, the Country Director of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, said the president was going too far in his administration’s efforts to suppress dissenting voices.
“Amnesty International received a disturbing report of the unlawful invasion of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project by operatives of the DSS. President Bola Tinubu is going too far in his government’s repressive efforts to silence dissenting voices,” he said.
On his part, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, condemned the unlawful invasion of the Abuja office of the SERAP’s office by operatives of the DSS.
He said: “I condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office. The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP’s office in the name of the government.
“Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution”, he said.
In the same vein, RULAAC said these developments pose a significant threat to the foundational pillars of democracy in Nigeria, emphasising the need for vigilance and advocacy for the protection of civil liberties.
The executive director of the organisation, Okechukwu Nwanguma, said such actions undermine the ability of civil society organisations and labour unions to operate freely, stifling dissent and limiting public discourse.
With additional reports from Daily Trust