By James Orji
The Department of State Services, DSS has slammed Segun Adeniyi, a former Media Adviser to late President Umaru Yar’Adua for allegedly inciting Nigerians against the Secret Police.
Adeniyi, former Editor of Thisday had written in his column in the newspaper, on Thursday, that the DSS and other security agencies have become willing tools in the hands of powerful Nigerians to oppress the citizens of the country.
The journalist was referencing the Ramon Abbas ‘Husspoppi’/ Abba Kyari money laundering saga, where the police officer and suspended commander of the Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Response Team, IRT was said to have used his office to detain a member of the fraud gang on the request of Ramon who now faces at least 20 years in prison in the United States, US for defrauding a Qatari man of over $1 billion.
The Kyari saga started after a US court ordered his arrest following his indictment by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence, FBI for allegedly collecting bribes from Abbas, an intercontinental frauds .Kyari who has now been suspended by the police authority is now under investigations to ascertain his complicity in the alleged scam.
Adeniyi, said in the article titled “Beyond Abba Kyari’s indictment” that “We have unwittingly created a situation in which those who bear arms on behalf of the state have become mercenaries for hire by just about anybody who can pay for their services.
“And to imagine it started with the case of Hushpuppi or that it will end with him is to live on fantasy island. I enjoin readers to do a simple Google search: Hundreds of innocent citizens are currently languishing in police or State Security Services (SSS) detention centres across the country, following arrests ordered by powerful men and women.
Responding to the allegation the DSS said the agency cannot be used as an oppressive tool against Nigerians, noting that whatever the agency is doing, is in the interest of the country.
According to a letter the DSS wrote to the former presidential aide, it urged him to withdraw the allegation even though the agency is not trying “to join issues with you on an opinion expressed by you in your article of 5th August, 2021 on the above subject matter.”
“The SSS takes exceptions to the part that states that “Hundreds of innocent citizens are currently languishing in Police and State Security Services (SSS) detention centres across the country, following arrests ordered by powerful men and women.
“This is not true. I do not speak for the Police but it is certain that no Nigerian or anyone for that matter is in the SSS/DSS custody on the order(s) of private citizens or persons. The SSS has an SOP on the criminal justice administration.
“The media owes a duty, propelled by good conscience and common good, to guide public narratives about some government agencies and their sacrifices to uphold security, peace and unity of this nation, Nigeria.”
It would be wrong to drag the image of the DSS on the mud for whatever reasons, the agency said, adding that the secret police deserves to be praised rather than being denigrated for its selfless service to the country.
“The SSS should not be run down given the slightest opportunity. You had been at the commanding heights of governance and national security administration and management to understand issues so as not to misinform the public.
“It is unacceptable for a respectable columnist of your experience and status to make a sweeping statement like the one herein. It is misleading, inciting, denigrating, demeaning, misinforming and should be withdrawn.
“The SSS and indeed security agencies, if not praised, should be supported. The Organisation may not be perfect but it is doing so much for the Country. It respects and loves the citizens and residents and strives to serve them based on best practices, rule of law/engagement and a balance between rights and national security.
