DSS Apologises, Releases Wrongfully Detained Journalists in Jos
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released two journalists from Jay 101.9 FM in Jos, Plateau State, after they were wrongfully arrested on Saturday during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the state. President Tinubu was in Jos to attend the funeral of the mother of Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to security sources, the journalists — Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang — were detained by overzealous operatives but were released after the DSS Director-General, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, learned of the incident and ordered their immediate release. The Nation reported that the DSS promptly contacted Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), to convey the Director-General’s apology over the “unfortunate misunderstanding.” “The Director assured the NUJ President that the new DSS leadership treasures the importance of a free press in a democracy and has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. Any officer found culpable will be appropriately sanctioned,” the source said. The source added that the new DSS leadership is focused on correcting inherited excesses within the Service. “The DG is correcting the wrongs he inherited, including overzealousness. He has not hesitated to admit errors whenever the Service makes mistakes. We’ve seen several instances where the DSS apologised and even compensated victims of wrongful arrests,” the source added. He further described Mr. Ajayi as a “lover of human rights and press freedom,” recalling that the DSS previously apologised to the management of TVC over alleged harassment and intimidation of one of its reporters. The latest action by the DSS has drawn commendation from media circles, with the NUJ leadership urging security agencies to maintain professionalism and respect for journalists in the discharge of their duties.