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Tag: dss

  • BREAKING: DSS arrests Sowore at Lagos airport

    BREAKING: DSS arrests Sowore at Lagos airport

    The convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, upon his arrival in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Sowore’s arrest may be connected to the 10-day #EndBadGovernance protest which was held across the country in August.

    Members of the Take It Back Movement and other activists had besieged the airport upon the arrival of the activist’s return to the country when the secret police struck.

    In a post via his X page, Sowore said his passport was also seized by the service.

    “I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA to the MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me,” he wrote.

    “This is not un expected because i have always known that It is part of the broader clampdown by the fascist Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime on dissent and their fear of the upcoming #FearlessINOctober revolt.

    “In case this becomes another prolonged and protracted detention, I urge our citizens to ensure they ALL stop tyranny by all means acceptable and necessary, by engaging in the planned series of direct actions salated for October 1st and beyond.”

  • DSS, Police take over Ilesa palace over Obokun’s death

    DSS, Police take over Ilesa palace over Obokun’s death

    Heavy security presence at the palace of Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, over the death of the monarch.

    The 87-year-old king had been on the throne for 42 years.

    It was learnt that Oba Aromolaran was admitted at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State till Wednesday.

    Palace sources revealed to The Nation that the monarch passed away on Wednesday. ““We are crying and mourning presently. They are moving personal belongings of the king out of the palace as I am speaking with you.”

    Another source said operatives of Nigeria Police and Department of State Service(DSS) have taken over the palace as they have also shut the gates.

     

     

  • DSS releases Ajaero’s passport

    DSS releases Ajaero’s passport

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has released the passport of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    Some of labour leaders, who spoke to Daily Trust on Tuesday in Abuja, said the secret police did not find anything incriminating against Ajaero.

    DSS bowed to pressure from various quarters on Monday when it released the labour leader on bail a few minutes to the ultimatum given by the NLC.

     

     

  • DSS says SERAP narrative on its investigation, inacurate, misleading

    DSS says SERAP narrative on its investigation, inacurate, misleading

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has described allegations by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) that its officers had taken control of its Abuja and Lagos offices, as “inaccurate and misleading”.

    The DSS, in a publication on its website on Tuesday in Abuja said a team of two unarmed operatives of the service were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to SERAP office in Abuja.

    The publication said SERAP, a Human Right Group had sadly skewed and misinterpreted the lawful assignment as unlawful, harassment and intimidation of its officials.

    The department said such official enquiries and liaison were traditional and does not in any way amount to illegality or raid.

    The service assured an indept investigation of the malicious contents and called for for citizens’ participation in national security management.

    It urged the public to disregard the false narratives by SERAP and pledged its commitment to utmost professionalism in the discharge of its core mandate.

    The human rights group had raised the alarm over an “unlawful occupation” of its offices by operatives of the DSS.

    The group had called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the “harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians.

  • BREAKING: NLC President, Ajaero released from DSS detention

    BREAKING: NLC President, Ajaero released from DSS detention

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has released President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero. The release of Comrade Ajaero was confirmed via the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the labour union.

    “NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero [has been] released from DSS detention. The struggle continues; we can’t be silenced,” a post on the official X account of NLC reads.

    It was gathered that Ajaero, who was released by the DSS and allowed him to go home around past 11 pm on Monday, had his passport in order to prevent him travelling out of the country.

    The NLC President said he was grilled for about 15 hours since his arrest around 7 am at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

    The labour leader said though he was detained by the DSS, some police officers also came around to grill him at the DSS office in Abuja over the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests that took place in August.

    Ajaero said he was quizzed over alleged terrorism financing involving a British national, Andrew Wynne.

    The labour leader was on his way to the United Kingdom on Monday for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) event when he was arrested at Abuja airport.

    The NLC had condemned Ajaero’s arrest and gave the secret police Tuesday midnight to release the labour leader. The union had also put all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert in the light of “this troubling development.”

    The TUC, global rights group Amnesty International, as well as human rights activist Femi Falana, amongst others, had berated the Federal Government for clamping down on the labour leader and demanded his immediate and unconditional release.

  • Why DSS arrested Ajaero — Source

    Why DSS arrested Ajaero — Source

    Facts over  possible reasons why the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero.

    The NLC President was picked up by DSS operatives on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja on his way outside the country for an official assignment.

    A top official of the agency told Tribune Online that Comrade Ajaero knew why he was picked at the time of his arrest without anybody telling him.

    According to the source, “Our friend, Comrade Ajaero knew why our Operatives prevented him from his journey abroad, he was actually intercepted at the Airport due to his failure to honour an invitation extended to him by the Service.

    “An invitation has been sent to him since last week concerning a petition filed by top NLC leaders against him, and based on this, we have to invite him since the issues raised in the petition bothered on national security.”

    Continuing, the source explained, “Our new Director General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi inherited the matter and when he resumed duty, he insisted that we invite the NLC President to clear the air on some of the allegations.

    “Last week, we invited him (Ajaero) through the normal channel, which is on the telephone. A very senior director extended the invitation and was mandated to handle the investigation.

    “Ajaero promised to come today, Monday. The next thing we heard was that Ajaero was sighted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, trying to board an international flight.

    “No responsible security organization will fold its hands in the face of such contempt. The law setting up the DSS empowers us to defend Nigeria against domestic threats, to uphold and enforce the criminal laws of Nigeria, and to provide leadership and criminal justice services to federal and state law-enforcement organs.

    “This, we have done over the decades without fear or favour. We often praise the CIA in the United States for operating without fear or favour. See the way former President Donald Trump is being dragged around, even though he has the chance of returning as President.

    “We must learn to live within the ambit of the law, including honouring invitations by security agencies. I’m sure he’ll be released after he clears the air on the allegations against him by some of his colleague-officers in the NLC.

    “There is no cause for concern over the arrest by our Operatives.”

    However, the service has yet to release any official statement on the matter.

     

  • Ajaero: Tinubu setting new record of impunity- Amnesty

    Ajaero: Tinubu setting new record of impunity- Amnesty

    Global rights group Amnesty International has condemned the arrest and detention of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    In a statement on Monday, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said with the attack on Ajaero, President Bola Tinubu is setting a new record of impunity.

    Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Aiport in Abuja on Monday on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment, the NLC said.

    Sanusi said, “Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.

    “The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.

    “President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC, through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop.

    “President Tinubu is setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law.

    “Amnesty International has observed, in the last one year, the increasing crackdown by the Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space. The authorities continue to weaponize the police and SSS to repress the human rights of Nigerians.

    “Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including trade union membership and activities. The country is also a member of the International Labour Organization, whose fundamental principles include the right to organize, are binding on all members.”

    “Under international human rights law workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.

    “Joe Ajaero is arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and must be immediately and unconditionally released.”

  • SERAP accuses DSS of intimidation, calls raid a ‘brutal crackdown’

    SERAP accuses DSS of intimidation, calls raid a ‘brutal crackdown’

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately direct Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) to end the intimidation and harassment and attack against its organization and the threat of arrest against its directors.

    Some officers from DSS on Monday invaded SERAP’s Abuja office.

    “A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man. Other officers were sighted in two unmarked vehicles stationed outside our office. The officers who interrogated our office requested to see our directors,” SERAP said in a statement.

    The group said invasion of its office followed its call on Tinubu and his government to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparently illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol and to ensure the prompt and thorough investigation of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC.

    In a statement on Monday by SERAP’s deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said it condemned the invasion of its Abuja office today by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS).

    “The Tinubu administration must immediately direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP and our staff members,” it stated.

    Human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana said: “We condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office. The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who carried out the invasion of SERAP’s office in the name of the government. Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”

    SERAP’s statement, read in part: “The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS and the harassment and intimidation of our staff members is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.

    “The escalating crackdown on human rights, and harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those most in need, undermine access of Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity of perpetrators.

    “This government has an obligation to support and protect civil society groups and human rights defenders. We are seriously concerned about the growing restrictions on civic space and the brutal crackdown on the human rights of Nigerians.

    “President Tinubu must urgently instruct appropriate authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate the invasion of our offices and to bring to justice those involved.

    “Nigerian authorities must allow SERAP to freely carry out our mandates as recognized under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.

    “Nigerian authorities must end the harassment and intimidation attacks against SERAP and ensure the safety and security of our staff.

    “If the Tinubu government does not take all necessary measures to immediately end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP or any other civil society group for that matter, SERAP will to take appropriate legal action nationally and internationally to challenge the brutal crackdown and hold the authorities to account for their constitutional and international human rights obligations.

    “SERAP will continue to work to challenge any attempt to restrict, silence or eliminate the voices of credible civil society in the country. We urge the presidency to speak out strongly against intimidation and harassment of SERAP and our staff.

    “Under the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and international human rights law, everyone whose rights are violated is entitled to a right to an effective remedy. Exposing human rights violations and seeking redress for them is largely dependent on the degree of security enjoyed by civil society groups and human rights defenders.

    “While some may not like to hear some of the things SERAP has said, this in no way justifies the invasion of our office and harassment and intimidation of our staff members. The authorities should show commitment to protecting the right to freedom of expression and guarantee conditions for civil society to flourish.”

     

  • CSOs condemn Ajaero’s arrest by DSS, call for his immediate release

    CSOs condemn Ajaero’s arrest by DSS, call for his immediate release

    The United Action Front of Civil Society has strongly condemned the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Ajaero was on his way to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in the United Kingdom when he was arrested by DSS operatives in a “Gestapo manner.”

    The civil society group described the arrest as a “needless show of force” and an attempt to cause national anarchy.

    They argued that Ajaero, as a high-profile citizen and leader, should have been treated with decorum and courtesy, rather than being subjected to “dehumanising tactics.”

    The group, in a statement signed by the Head of Secretariat, Hamisu Santuraki, called for Ajaero’s immediate release, warning that his detention could lead to mass resistance and civil disobedience. They also announced plans to commence national consultations on halting the growing “police state” in Nigeria.

    “We wish to state that the DSS has, without reason, broken the civil and conventional practice earlier adopted by the police in security matters concerning well-known high-profile citizens and leaders of the people, like the President of the NLC.

    Instead of extending invitations to such individuals, they have resorted to dehumanising tactics such as forceful abduction to embarrass and intimidate them like common criminals.

    “As a matter of fact, Comrade Joe Ajaero is a significant leader of both the Labour movement and the masses of Nigeria, given his popular position as the President of the NLC, and therefore deserves to be treated with profound decorum and courtesy.

    Consequently, any security issues involving him should be handled with due process and not with the Gestapo tactics displayed by security agents today, which threaten to cause national chaos.

    “For us in the organised civil society and pro-democracy movement of Nigeria, the abduction of Ajaero today is brash and indecent on the part of Nigerian security operatives and should be condemned by all Nigerians. We, therefore, wish to unequivocally condemn this needless act of rascality employed by the DSS against the President of the NLC, which has already sent shockwaves through the length and breadth of the country and may lead to mass resistance and civil disobedience if Ajaero is not immediately released by the State.”

    Ajaero’s arrest has generated shockwaves across the country, with many condemning the DSS’s actions as a brazen attempt to silence dissenting voices.

  • UPDATE: NLC fumes over arrest of Ajaero, reveals next line of action

    UPDATE: NLC fumes over arrest of Ajaero, reveals next line of action

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it would not sit idly by while the rights of its leaders, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other members of the labour union are trampled upon. NLC disclosed its organs are already in a closed door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NLC President, Comrade Ajaero was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday.

    “In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert. The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Joe Ajaero,” NLC disclosed in a statement by Benson Upah, Head of Information and Public Affairs.

    Ajaero was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the United Kingdom (UK) on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain. Comrade Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness are discussed.

    “We are yet to ascertain his whereabouts or his state of health as all efforts we have made to get in touch with him have proved abortive,” NLC revealed in the statement, following the arrest of Ajaero.

    The statement reads: “We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive. His detention is therefore a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body. His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation.

    “The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.

    “This is an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the economic policies of the government continues to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship. Such actions are not only undemocratic but immoral as well as a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organizations to lawfully express their views and carry out their activities.

    “In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert. The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Joe Ajaero.

    “Furthermore, we call on the international community, human rights organizations, and all advocates of democracy to take note of this rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria. The world must bear witness to these assaults on human dignity, civil liberties, and the rule of law.

    “The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state. Once again, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero and the cessation of all forms of harassment against labour leaders and the Nigerian working class including innocent citizens who hold dissenting opinions.

    “We equally demand that the state frees all Nigerians languishing in various prisons around the country for exercising their democratic rights to protest in the #EndBadGovernance rallies around the country. Finally, the Organs of the Congress are in a closed door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public”.