DSS Speaks On Abducting Citizens For Ransom

The Department of State Service (DSS) has refuted media reports that it is involved in kidnapping innocent citizens for ransom.

In a statement on Wednesday, DSS Spokesman, Peter Afunanya, said it does not abduct Nigerians under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The secret police spokesman described the reports that it is involved in abducting citizens as false, mischievous and misleading.

He stressed that the agency has never arrested anyone without following the necessary procedures and only arrests people when necessary.

Afunanya pointed out that the agency is law-abiding and committed to the protection of citizens and sensitive government installations

The statement reads: “The DSS is law-abiding and committed to the protection of citizens and sensitive government installations.

“In doing this, it will continue to discharge its mandate of intelligence collection and timely dissemination of same to relevant action agencies and stakeholders. 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 the government and its institutions.

“Otherwise, those who run foul of the law must be ready to face justice either now or in the future.”