The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied that it had arrested and detained seven members of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A social media report had alleged that the DSS arrested some ICT staff of INEC for disclosing the commission’s server Identity number to the PDP and its Presidential candidate in the just concluded elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Mr Peter Afunanya, Public Relations Officer of the service, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

He said that the report went further to state that the staff were detained and tortured for three days by the service to find out who among them gave out the information.

According to him, “the fake news carriers even went further to allege that 7 staffers of the ICT department were quizzed, detained and tortured for 3 days by the DSS to find who gave such information and that they were hurriedly released when their wives threatened to jointly go on public protest”.

“The service wishes to state that the information in its entirety is false and should be seen as a calculated effort to smear its image. It states categorically that none of such things happened as it never invited or arrested any INEC staff. There is no iota of truth in these allegations and the public is, therefore, enjoined to disregard them. They are simply manipulative, misleading, inciting and can only be considered as mischievous and unpatriotic,”he said.

He recalled that the DSS was recently honoured by an International Election observer group for its neutrality and professionalism during the general elections.

He assured the public that the service would continue to conduct itself in the manner that had earned it honour.

Afunanya warned mischief makers who were desirous of using fake news to cause break down of law and order to desist from such.

“The service will not condone deliberate acts of subversion and sabotage aimed at harming the peace of the nation”.

“However, no efforts will be spared to ensure those bent on causing disaffection are brought to justice. The service rededicates itself to civility and the ideals of democracy in the discharge of its mandate”, he said.
(NAN)