Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Security Services, DSS, has refuted reports that its operatives attacked medical doctors at a recruitment exercise in Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
There were unconfirmed reports that DSS operatives invaded the popular Abuja hotel and dispersed the doctors attending a job interview organized by the Saudi Arabian government.
But in a statement on Friday, DS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, denied dispersing anybody at the hotel, adding that no operation was carried out in the said place.
Afunanya, stated that the reports are false and baseless, adding that the news is only designed to embarrass the organization.
He, however, advised journalists to crosscheck their facts and ensure that they do not use their platforms to mislead the public or undermine national security.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Department of State Services has once again been drawn to a falsehood being circulated in the media that it dispersed doctors attending a Saudi Arabia organised job interview at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, yesterday 26th August 2021.”
“Though this is illogical and does not add up, sections of the media that reported it did not care to verify the news before going to print. No further evidence was also adduced to prove that the DSS carried out such an operation at the hotel. It is obvious that the news is only designed to embarrass the Organisation.”
“Journalists and other media practitioners are enjoined to crosscheck their facts and ensure that they do not use their platforms to mislead the public or undermine national security.”
Meanwhile, the secret agency has also dismissed reports that its operatives arrested two presenters of Channels Television.
Bibian Anekwe News reports that the secret police denied this in a statement signed by Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesperson.
“The attention of the DSS has been drawn to news making the rounds in some sections of the media that its operatives earlier today (26th August 2021) arrested two (2) journalists of Channels Television,” the statement read.
“This is false and misleading. Fake news peddlers should shun the act. ”
Reports had emerged on Thursday that the DSS arrested Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu over an interview they conducted on the private television.
But Bibian Anekwe News exclusively reported that the duo were not arrested by the secret police.
A source had disclosed that the station only received a query from the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, a move the source described as a plot to intimidate Channels TV.
Usoh and Okikiolu, according to reports, were invited to the NBC’s in Abuja on Thursday.
