The Department of State Services (DSS) has provided clarification regarding its recent visit to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja.
In an official statement, the DSS refuted claims that its officers conducted a raid on SERAP’s office, asserting that the presence of the agents was part of a routine investigation. The agency emphasized that its actions were mischaracterized as acts of harassment and intimidation.
“The Department of State Services has received numerous inquiries regarding its alleged unlawful invasion of SERAP offices,” the statement noted. “This narrative is inaccurate and misleading. A team of two unarmed operatives was lawfully on a routine investigation in the Abuja office, which has been misconstrued as unlawful conduct.”
The DSS further underscored that official inquiries and liaison activities are standard practice, not to be misconceived as an illegality or raid. They assured the public of a thorough investigation into the misconceptions while encouraging citizen involvement in national security matters.
The agency called for the public to disregard misleading narratives while reaffirming its dedication to professionalism in fulfilling its duties.
In response to the DSS visit, SERAP has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene, urging an end to what it perceives as intimidation and harassment of its organization and personnel. SERAP’s Deputy Director condemned the event as a serious threat to the human rights community in Nigeria.
SERAP’s statement highlighted concerns over the increasing suppression of human rights and the intimidation of NGOs and activists, which they argue jeopardizes access to justice for victims of human rights abuses. They called on the government to protect civil society groups and ensure their operational freedom in alignment with constitutional and international rights commitments.
SERAP is demanding an urgent and impartial investigation into the incident, emphasizing the need for accountability and the safeguarding of civic rights in Nigeria.
