DSS: No ‘Qualified’ Person Has Come For Sowore

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday disclosed that the service is ready to free the Convener of RevolutionNow movement.

The DSS, which stated this against the backdrop of reports that the service had opened fire on protesters who protested the continued detention of Sowore on Tuesday, said no qualified person has come for him.

THE WHISTLER recalls that Sowore has been in detention since he was arrested on August 3 on charges of treasonable felony.

He was granted bail by a federal high court in Abuja but he is still been held captive even after meeting his bail conditions.

The alleged refusal of the DSS to release Sowore prompted the Tuesday’s protest. The protesters had converged on the service headquarters of the agency to demand his release.

It was gathered that during the protest, some security agents clashed with Sowore’s supporters. Pictures showing the security operatives pointing guns at the protesters went viral on social media.

According to a statement by the Spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya operatives of the agency did not open fire on protesters but only prevented them from forcefully breaking into the agency to release Sowore.

“The DSS wishes to state that its operatives did not open fire on alleged protesters who had stormed its facility on 12th November, 2019,” he said.

“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, as a professional and responsible Organisation, did not shoot at the so called protesters. It could not have done so.

“For emphasis, the Service reiterates its avowed readiness to release SOWORE once the processes are concluded.”

Afunanya said those who have offered to take delivery of Sowore are not qualified to do so.

The DSS spokesperson maintained that some persons were using the avenue to smear the image of the agency, while others were politicising.

“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,” he said.

“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. It is even more disappointing that Femi FALANA, who is a senior lawyer, would wrongly guide his client and supporters. He is rather playing to the gallery and mobilizing miscreants to subvert the Service and other state authorities. He has excellent relationship with the DG SS. But in the circumstance, he has refused to reach out to him over the case like he had on previously related ones.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Service restates its commitment to the rule of law and particularly respect to the Court. It, therefore, calls for calm but states that it will not be intimidated or harassed into hasty actions.”