The Department of State Services, DSS, has denied arresting and detaining seven staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Recall that some social media platforms and conventional media reports had alleged that the DSS arrested some ICT staff of INEC for disclosing the commission’s server Identity number to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its Presidential candidate in the just concluded elections, Atiku Abubakar.
The report also stated that the staff were detained and tortured for three days by the service to find out who among them gave out the information.
Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr. Peter Afunanya, in a statement described the report as false.
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The statement read in part: “The service wishes to state that the information in its entirety is false and should be seen as a calculated effort to smear its image.
”It states categorically that none of such things happened as it never invited or arrested any INEC staff.
“There is no iota of truth in these allegations and the public is, therefore, enjoined to disregard them. They are simply manipulative, misleading, inciting and can only be considered as mischievous and unpatriotic.”
Afunanya recalled that the DSS was recently honoured by an International Election observer group for its neutrality and professionalism during the general elections, assuring the public that the it would continue to conduct itself in the manner that had earned it honour.
He warned mischief makers trying to use fake news to cause break down of law and order to desist from such warning that “the service will not condone deliberate acts of subversion and sabotage aimed at harming the peace of the nation.”
