The Department of State Services (DSS) has responded to accusations from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), claiming that its recent visit to the organization’s Abuja office was a routine investigation that has been misinterpreted.
On Monday, SERAP raised concerns that DSS operatives had stormed its office, allegedly seeking to interrogate the group’s directors. In a statement shared with Vanguard, the human rights organization called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and halt what they described as intimidation, harassment, and threats of arrest against their leadership.
SERAP recounted that a group of DSS officers arrived at their Abuja office, with a woman described as “tall, large, and dark-skinned” entering alongside a “slim, dark-skinned man,” while additional officers waited outside in unmarked vehicles. The group claimed the DSS operatives requested to see their directors without providing a clear reason for the visit.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with many Nigerians criticizing the DSS’s actions as a violation of the right to freedom of association and expression—cornerstones of democratic governance. The public outcry highlighted concerns over the growing tension between civil society organizations and government agencies.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday through its official website, the DSS clarified its stance, asserting that the visit was part of a standard procedure and not an act of intimidation or harassment. The agency explained that its operatives, two unarmed officers, were conducting a lawful investigation in connection with SERAP, and that their visit should not have been construed as an unlawful raid.
“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,” the statement read.
The DSS emphasized that official visits and inquiries are part of its regular duties and are essential to national security management. The agency also assured the public that it would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, urging Nigerians to disregard any misinformation surrounding the visit.
“The DSS urges the public to disregard these false narratives as it restates its commitment to utmost professionalism in the discharge of its core mandate,” the statement concluded.
The situation continues to draw attention as civil society groups and human rights advocates remain concerned about government actions that could potentially stifle freedom of expression and civic engagement.
