The State Security Service (SSS) said that although two of its officials visited the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja on Monday, they did not invade the office.
He explained that two of his unarmed officers only came to the office for a routine investigation.
The SSS disclosed this on its official website on Tuesday.
Some officials of the SSS (also called the Department of State Services) descended on the office of the prominent civil society group on Monday morning, sparking apprehension among Nigerians amid what many see as a crackdown on civic space. The incident occurred a few hours after the SSS arrested the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.
The agency said the information circulated about the visit to the SERAP office was inaccurate and misleading, stating that its agents went to the SERAP office to conduct a routine investigation.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has been inundated with multiple investigations into its alleged illegal invasion of SERAP offices in Abuja and Lagos.”
“This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in intent. For the record, a team of two (2) unarmed Service operatives were lawfully assigned to a routine investigation at SERAP office in Abuja, which has unfortunately been distorted and misinterpreted as an unlawful act of harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials. The Service wishes to further state that such investigations and official contacts are traditional and in no way amount to illegality or raid,” the statement said.
Article page with promotion of financial support
The SSS said it would investigate the “malicious content” shared regarding yesterday’s incident.
“While ensuring a thorough investigation of these malicious contents, it calls for citizen participation in the management of national security.”
“Therefore, the DSS urges the public to disregard these false narratives, while reaffirming its commitment to utmost professionalism in carrying out its core mandate.”
PREMIUM TIMES reported that some SSS officials went to the office of the prominent civil society group on Monday morning demanding to see its director for no known reason.
SERAP also said in a statement that “A tall, heavyset, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a thin, dark-skinned man. Other officers in two unmarked vehicles were seen parked outside our office. The officers who questioned our office requested to see our directors.”
READ ALSO: SERAP sues governors and Wike over loans from states and Abuja
According to the group, the SSS reaction followed its call on President Bola Tinubu to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the increase in the price of petrol.
“The invasion of SERAP’s office followed our call on Mr. Tinubu and his government to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the price of petrol and ensure a prompt and thorough investigation into alleged corruption and mismanagement at the NNPC,” the statement said.