The Department of State Service has debunked a story by an online platform claiming DSS operatives go be weapons and split ransom with bandits.
The medium in a story titled: We Receive Weapons From SSS Agents, Split Ransom Payment – Bandits, alleged that: “Armed bandits terrorising different parts of Nigeria have disclosed that they have been receiving arms and ammunition from operatives of the SSS and often split ransom payments received at gunpoint.
“The criminals told Deutsche Welle in a recent report that they “borrow weapons” from the state agents and then go to work to share ill-gotten gains together.
“The bandits also said some police officers have been a part of the conspiracy that has fueled insecurity across Nigeria which President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of being too lazy to address.”
However, the DSS Spokesman, Peter Afunanya, in a letter to the organisation dated May 10, 2021, and titled: Re: We Receive Weapons From SSS Agents, Split Ransom Payment – Bandits, said: “You may kindly recall that I had called you earlier today to complain about the above misleading publication by your online platform, Peoples Gazette.
“It alleged that bandits and terrorists had been “receiving arms and ammunition from operatives of the State Security Service and often split ransom payments received at gun point.”
The letter addressed to the Founder/CEO Peoples Gazette, Mr Samuel Ogundipe, further stated that, ” Your report, as you were made to understand, was unfounded, mischievous and a calculated effort to bring the Service and its hardworking personnel to disrepute.
“Though you made allusion to the report by Deutsche Welle as your source, you agreed that the said reportage did not in any way refer to the State Security Service as used in Peoples Gazette fake post. You affirmed that the Service was doing so much and did not deserve such negative portrayal.
“You further expressed disappointment and surprise that your reporter did not reach out to the Service as claimed, the way you would have personally done by means of call, SMS and/or WhatsApp chat.
“While we agreed that this development has offered you opportunity to step up supervision of your staff, I, on behalf of the Service, made a three point demand namely: “That the story should be taken down immediately; That you should publish a retraction on your platform in the next 24 hours; andThat you render unreserved apology to the Service for deliberately casting it in bad light.
“In view of the long standing relationship with the media as strategic partners, it is believed that you will speedily comply with these demands otherwise the Service would resort to litigation.”
