What Nigerians need to know about “assisting” an organisation that is meant to protect citizens but have brazenly become an instrument of oppression, witch-hunting trampling on the rights of the people they are supposed to protect.
On Thursday 4th of August, 2023, Otunba Femi Davies, a journalist of many years standing was called by one “Okada Rider” (according to Truecaller) and the person introduced himself as Michael from the Department of State Security in Abeokuta the Ogun State command with the telephone number: 234 903 193 7290. The request was for Femi Davies to come and “assist” the DSS on an ongoing Investigation.
There were debates about whether he should honour that invitation or not. Some suggested since Femi Davies is not a security operative and he is not earning salaries from them, why should he “assist” them. Let those who are being paid do their own job, especially when the exact nature of “assistance” required was not communicated.
There are other suggestions on whether he should go with a lawyer or not. One or two calls were also made and there were assurances he just needed to testify or witness an ongoing investigation, nothing much.
It is based in this trust that Femi Davies left the comfort of his Lagos home without changing clothes, without his medications entrusting his faith and well being in the hands of a few individuals and without any lawyer assistance. He arrived at the gate of the Department of State Security, Ogun State command, Abeokuta at exactly 9:38am on Monday 7th of August, 2023. The appointment was scheduled for 10:00am.
Since Monday, no one has heard from him again, except from snippets of speculations from grapevine and beer parlour gossips. Some claimed that it was an order from the Director General of the DSS in Abuja who is said to be a very close friend of Mr. Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State; others claimed so much money had been paid in Abuja to permanently keep all opposition to the government in permanent incarceration and that Femi Davies might just be the start of the reign of terror to be unleashed on the citizens and that the leadership of DSS in Abuja is doing the hatchet job.
Of course, there will be room for speculations as long as the DSS could not come in the open of what they are investigating. Other sinister reports said Femi Davies published a story about the domestic violence of one Tokunbo Talabi who is believed to be the Secretary to the Ogun State Government. In their warped imagination, they said Femi wrote that the said Tokunbo Talabi impregnated his House maid and also shared the story with Talabi’s wife which led to the break up in their marriage and left the man distraught. A quick check on Femi Davies online news site could not return a confirmation to these sinister claims. Whose fault? The DSS of course.
Another story making the rounds says that Femi Davies published a story about Tokunbo Talabi’ Superflux which allegedly printed ballot papers for the election, with the claim that the DSS is investigating the source of the story. On the one hand, the Shield Law protects journalists from disclosing the source(s) of their information. It is also laziness on the part of the DSS to have to incarcerate someone to do their investigation, why are they being paid? In saner society, security operatives complete their investigations without even harassing the citizens.
If there are also no other wicked motives behind this malicious invitation to “assist”, there is no other source(s) on the Superflux and Tokunbo Talabi matter than the Open petition by HURIWA signed off by known legal luminary Dr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN to the EFCC, ICPC and CCB. If there are no personal interests which give credence to the theory of using the DSS leadership in Abuja to whip all opposition to Dapo Abiodun in Ogun State in line, a matter that is already before three anti-graft federal agencies in true capacity to handle should not have been of interest to the DSS. It is setting the stage for inter-agency conflict.
What does the law say about the length of time that an individual can spend in the custody of any security agencies? Has Femi Davies not been held longer than such length of time to merely “assist” a bullying and oppressive organization that is set up to protect the citizens.
Should anybody be invited again and they disregard DSS invitation be considered to have broken the law? Definitely, No!
There is no difference between being arrested in their now familiar gestapo like operations than being civil to honour their invitation for “assistance” secretly.
At least the gestapo operation will happen before a lot of people and they will know who whisked the victim away than to foolishly and quietly submit one’s personal freedom to a wicked group of individuals who now behave as if they are higher than other human beings simply because they wield the guns.
The sad trajectory of what we call a democracy – and everyone has been scared to silence; even under the military or dictatorship people still find their voices to condemn oppression.
Kindly regards,
Signed:
Friends of Femi Davies
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If it’s said that security is everyone’s responsibility, I would have taken the unidentified call and caller seriously and tow the line of thought that it could be from kidnappers.
Having said this, we are grateful that he can be reached.
My next question will be, is this operation or detention official or a backroom with polical motives and manipulation of the agency’s operatives to harass and distract attentions from probably someone that’s presently being investigated
The instrument of the state should not be seen to be used to suppress the voice of the people and the people