Condemnations have continued to trail Monday raid of the Abuja office of the Social Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS)
This followed the DSS defendce of its actions which it described it as routine operation
SERAP had raised the alarm last Monday that it’s Abuja office had been invaded by stern looking operatives of the DSS who were said to be demanding for its director
SERAP which has been at the forefront in the demands for good governance and accountability from government said the raid followed the organization’s demand for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the increase in petrol prices and investigate corruption allegations within the company
In recent days, SERAP has instituted several court cases against governments, both federal and states to demanding for accountability in the9 spending of public funds
SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, who provided details of the incident, stated, “A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man. Other officers were seen in two unmarked vehicles outside. The officers requested to see our directors. The invasion and harassment of our staff are a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.”
Condemning the act, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, in his official X handle (@Pres_Adebayo), expressed worries over the incident stating that Nigeria cannot revert to the oppressive tactics of the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
He demanded an explanation from the government for the raid. “I am for law enforcement and the rule of law as a matter of instinct.
“The invasion of @SERAPNigeria’s offices by agents of @OfficialDSSNG under the administration of @officialABAT calls for immediate and clear explanation. What would Abacha do cannot be the new doctrine!” Adebayo wrote.
Similarly Human Rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, called on the Tinubu administration to identify and prosecute the officers involved in the raid of SERAP’s office
He emphasized the need for government to respect the rights of human rights defenders as outlined in the Nigerian Constitution.
Senator Shehu Sani took his turn to express similar concern.
The former Kaduna central senator, using his X handle (@ShehuSani), stated, “The reported invasion of SERAP’s office is concerning. Security agencies must respect the fundamental rights of the organization, its officials, and members, as guaranteed by the constitution of the country.”