Why We ‘Visited’ SERAP Abuja Office – DSS

The Department of State Services (DSS) has officially addressed concerns following its visit to the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja. This follows accusations from SERAP, a prominent human rights group, which had earlier claimed its office was unlawfully occupied by DSS operatives.

SERAP had raised the alarm on Monday, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, describing the DSS presence as “harassment, intimidation, and an attack on the rights of Nigerians.” In a social media post, SERAP stated that the operatives were “unlawfully occupying” their office and seeking to meet with the organisation’s directors.

In response, the DSS issued a statement on Tuesday, refuting SERAP’s claims and clarifying that the visit was part of a lawful routine investigation. The security agency emphasized that the two unarmed operatives sent to the office were conducting a standard inquiry and that the event had been misrepresented by SERAP.

“The narrative presented by SERAP is inaccurate and misleading,” the DSS stated. “For the record, two unarmed operatives were lawfully dispatched to SERAP’s office in Abuja as part of a routine investigation. This action does not constitute illegality, harassment, or intimidation.”

The DSS assured the public that such inquiries are part of its regular operations and are carried out in line with professional standards. It urged citizens to disregard what it described as “false narratives” and reaffirmed its commitment to upholding professionalism and transparency.

The visit by DSS operatives occurred shortly after SERAP requested President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the recent increase in fuel prices and investigate alleged corruption and mismanagement within the company.