The Department of State Security Services (DSS) has insisted that appropriate persons have not come forward to receive detained publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore.
“For emphasis, the Service reiterates its avowed readiness to release SOWORE once the processes are concluded. It maintains that the appropriate persons have still not turned up to take delivery of SOWORE.”
In a statement today, November 13, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, said denied that operatives of the agency opened fire on protesters who wanted to forcefully break 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.
“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.”
It will be recalled that Sowore was arrested in Lagos on August 3rd and flown to Abuja where he has since been held. A federal high court in Abuja had granted him bail but the activist is yet to regain freedom even after fulfilling his bail conditions.
