The Department of State Services (DSS) says it will not release Omoyele Sowore, convener of #RevolutionNow Movement to a mob.
Omoyele Sowore, is an investigative journalist and founder of the New York-based news site Sahara Reporters, who was arrested in August by the country’s intelligence agency, the Department of State Services (DSS).
He is charged with treasonable felony for organizing a Revolution Now protest, which the government said was an attempt to disrupt peace in the nation.He is also charged with cyberstalking President Muhammadu Buhari and money laundering. Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Weeks after meeting his bail conditions, the journalist is still being held, his lawyer Femi Falana said Wednesday.
The DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, said this on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja – he also said the detained owner of SaharaReporters has been mobilising thugs while in prison.
“Sowore was granted bail and we say that he is in our custody. Do we bring Sowore out to the gate and ask him to go?’ What if Sowore was going on the road and he was knocked down by a car?
“People who should take Sowore and do proper documentation have not come up until now. Protesters and some people who were not parties, unqualified to stand and document properly and take responsibility that Sowore has been released to them, came.
“Is it the right thing for us to have released Sowore to a mob? People who came and acted unruly, fighting and forcing themselves into the facility.”
Amidst video evidence, Mr Afunanya denies the allegations that live ammunition were fired at protesters who gathered at the secret police’ headquarters to demand the release of Sowore.
“No guns were used on any person. The DSS is a very peaceful organisation and discharges its duty with utmost responsibility and accountability,” he said.
“We have standard operating procedures on the use of arms. So, our staff couldn’t have used guns on any person. Things were exaggerated and people were passing their opinions to put the service on a part of hate.”
The DSS spokesman claimed the operatives of the service have been receiving threats from Sowore’s supporters.
“We have continued to receive various threats on our personnel. Threats about how they will be mobbed on the streets, how they will be physically attacked, killed and given treatment they would live to regret,” he said.
”Documentation is imperative in the discharge of security duties, and that those who stood as sureties for Sowore in court, should come forward and do proper documentation with the service so that he (Sowore) can be released to them.”
