The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied opening fire at protesters who converged at its headquarters on Tuesday over the continued detention of the convener of RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.
Mr Sowore has been in DSS detention since his arrest in Lagos on August 3.
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Videos that went viral on Tuesday showed DSS operatives shooting in the air and using pepper spray to disperse the protesters.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, said the operatives did not shoot at them but only prevented them from forcefully breaking into its facility 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.
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“For emphasis, the service reiterates its avowed readiness to release Sowore once the processes are concluded.”
Mr Afunanya criticised Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana, saying: “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.”
