Ime Akpan
The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied the allegation that it arrested and detained seven members of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly leaking the Commission’s ID server to the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Atiku Abubakar.
A social media report had alleged that the DSS arrested some ICT staff of INEC for disclosing the Commission’s server identity number to Atiku and the PDP.
According to the report, the staff were detained and tortured for three days by the DSS to find out who among them gave out the information.
It added that the employees were hurriedly released by the DSS when their wives threatened to jointly go on public protest.
In a statement in Abuja, the spokesman for DSS, Mr. Peter Afunanya, disclaimed the report saying: “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.
“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,” he said.
He recalled that the DSS was recently honoured by an international election observer group for its neutrality and professionalism during the general elections.
He assured the public that the service would continue to conduct itself in the manner that had earned it honour.
Afunanya warned mischief makers desirous of using fake news to cause break down of law and order to desist from such act.
“The service will not condone deliberate acts of subversion and sabotage aimed at harming the peace of the nation,” he added.
With Agency report
