The Department of State Services (DSS) has described as false the narrative published by an online Newspaper which quoted Amnesty International (AI) as stating that SSS abduct innocent Nigerians under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
The Service in a Press Statement Signed by its Spokesman, Peter Afunanya, stated that Whether reported by Peoples Gazette or Amnesty International, the Service outrightly denies what it said is a misleading narrative.
It added that it does not abduct Nigerians.
The Service said as part of its enforcement activities, it makes arrests when, where and if necessary.
This it said is carried out in line with tenets of democratic ideals.
At no time has the agency embarked on its actions without following laid down procedures in respect of obtaining warrants of arrest or orders for detention from competent legal authorities.
The claim of abduction or use of enforced disappearances is an absolute lie and a make-up narrative designed to bring the Service to disrepute.
The DSS described itself as a law abiding and committed agency to the protection of citizens and sensitive government installations.
In doing its duties, it said it will continue to discharge its mandate of intelligence collection and timely dissemination of same to relevant action agencies and stakeholders.
Public attention the Service added should, however, be drawn to the deliberate and determined efforts of the publisher of Peoples Gazette, Samuel Ogundipe, to use his platform to undermine law and order.
He is known to have, on several occasions, engaged in false and distorted publications to disinform the public.
He and his cohorts according to the DSS are hereby warned, for the umpteenth time, to desist from these deplorable acts against the peace and security of the nation.
It is time for Ogundipe and the likes to choose reason over fatuity; and patriotism over disloyalty and treachery.
Their continuous mischievous resolve to use fake news and hate speech to set the country on fire is condemnable.
Media practitioners in the country should rise above parochial considerations, sanitise its fold and fish out quacks among them.
The media can also peer review and embark on self-censorship as part of achieving professionalism in the industry.
They must reject the allure of enticement by external forces to use them to instigate violence or undermine government and its institutions.
Otherwise, those who run foul of the law must be ready to face justice either now or in the future.
The Peoples Gazette had in a publication to celebrate the International Day of the Disappeared had quoted Amnesty International as accusing the DSS, Police and Other Security Agencies in Nigeria of using enforced disappearance as a weapon against Nigerians especially those dissenting against the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
It also alleged that the Service abduct Nigerians routinely.
