Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) have Bukola Samuel-Wemimo, a journalist with Television Continental (TVC) in Lagos.
Mrs Samuel-Wemimo, who is the anchor of Fireworks, a political programme on TVC, was detained by operatives of the SSS in their Magodo office in Lagos on Wednesday.
Revealing what transpired in a series of post on her Twitter handle, the journalist said it has become a practice of the SSS operatives in the axis to intimidate commuters during gridlock.
She wrote: “I am being detained unlawfully here by the @StateDeptDSS on CMD road Magodo for doing no wrong. It is the practice of the DSS to stop traffic when it builds up to their office from the center for management and development. My driver crossed unknowingly, we explained to them that it was unintended.
“I even told them that it happened to me before when I drove myself and I parked immediately apologizing. But obviously they don’t like outspoken Nigerians. By stopping traffic in front of their office beside cmd road, @StateDeptDSS contributes to the Gridlock.”
“If the intention is to secure their area, it is good, but the collective safety of drivers is also important. The first DSS official had actually let us go, but another farther off who wants to prove tough has detained us. I will not be intimidated,” she explained.
Mrs Samuel-Wemimo said as soon as she started tweeting about the irregularities of the operatives, she was released.
“As soon as I started tweeting the overzealous officials went into their office. They thought I would come begging. I refuse to be intimidated @dss_nigeria stopping traffic during gridlock in front of your office doesn’t make sense. Newcomers to the route will inevitably skip it. And it is also not a safe approach to security. ”
“I have been released. I refuse to be intimidated. Thank you everyone. I have been released. Happy new year!”, she wrote.
