Malik Yahya/
The Department of State Services (DSS) has explained why it was compelled to use force to disperse protesters who besieged its headquarters in Abuja yesterday to demand the release of the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore.
The agency in a statement by its spokesman, Peter Afunaya, today said the action of its operatives was in line with “normal global security practice”, after “some group of persons made unruly attempts to forcefully break into the place and effect the release of Omoloye Sowore”.
Afunaya however denied that the operatives opened fire on the protesters.
The DSS also claimed that it was prepared to release Sowore yesterday, but that those who came forward are not qualified to take him on bail.
It insisted that it would only hand over the pro-democracy activist to those that stood surety for him
He said: “While all those that have so far shown up are not directly concerned with the matter and therefore unqualified, many others have either chosen to grandstand or politicise it to achieve hidden interests.
“In the last few days, the Service has continued to witness deliberate campaigns of calumny, threats and aspersions against it.
“It will not, for any reason, join issues with its mudslingers. The media is called upon to be neutral and remain champions of the truth.
“It is only appropriate that those who stood surety for Sowore present themselves and have him released to them.
“The DSS wishes to state that its operatives did not open fire on alleged protesters who had stormed its facility on November 12, 2019.
“As a normal global security practice, the operatives stood in defence of their facility when some group of persons made unruly attempts to forcefully break into the place and effect the release of Omoloye Sowore.
“Despite serial and unwarranted provocations, the Service did not shoot at the so called protesters. It could not have done so.”
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