DSS: Sowore Using His Phone To Call For Protest From Detention

The Department of State Services( DSS) has said Convener of #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore has been instigating violence and protests even in custody.

Sowore, who has been in the custody of the DSS for some time, was arrested on August 3, 2019 by operatives of the service. He was granted bail by a federal high court, Abuja. He has been in custody of the service despite meeting his bail conditions.

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Spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said Sowore was doing well as the service had provided everything he needs including access to his phone, which he has now started using to call for actions and protests.

“There is nothing that Sowore needed that we didn’t provide. He has been using his phone to make contacts and call for actions and protests. He has been using it to mobilize people and call for violence, for actions against the Nigerian State. He has been using it to call for destruction of the Nigerian entity.

“When you throw a stone in the marketplace, you sure don’t know on whose head it will land. Sowore has family members in Nigeria who go to local markets. He has relatives, he has uncles and sisters, if you set the fire, of course you may not know who will get the burns,” he said.

Afunanya said claims by Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana that he had visited the service to take delivery of Soworo to no avail was not true.

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Afunanya said despite Falana’s close relationship with the Director General of the service, Yusuf Bichi, the Human Rights Lawyer has never visited or called the DSS boss as regards the issue.

“The records are straight. Falana has not been here since this thing started. Falana has not visited this office since the issue of bail started. We had said in one of our releases that it is even more unfortunate that Falana who is a very good friend of the DG has not called him for once on this issue. He didn’t call or seen the DG,” he said.

The DSS spokesperson maintained that the service is a responsible and responsive security agency, which respects the rule of law and due processes in line with international best practices.

He added that the service, which is ready to release Sowore cannot just let him go without proper documentation and handing over, noting that the service is protecting him from harm.

He said if the security agency releases him just like that without properly handing him over to the appropriate person, the service might still be blamed if eventually anything happens to him.

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While noting that operatives of the service have remained calm despite the provocations, Afunnaya said the service is not against criticism or bashing, as it is charged to protect the internal security of the country, without fear or favour.

The secret police spokesman disclosed that officers and personnel of the service have continued to receive messages of threat from Sowore’s supporters on how they will be attacked.

The Sahara Reporters Publisher and Former Presidential Candidate of Africa Action Congress (AAC) had been charged with treason for attempting to stage what he called the #RevolutionNow protest against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

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