The State Security Services (DSS) has refuted the news report that its operatives dispersed medical doctors participating in a recruitment interview organised by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) officials in Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, the Nigeria’s capital.
A media report had claimed that SSS operatives stormed the hotel Thursday morning and dispersed the doctors and journalists, who gathered at the venue.
The report also alleged that a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Marcus Fatunde, was arrested at the venue but was later released by the SSS also known as DSS, Department of State Services.
The recruitment interview was organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health.
But the secret agency, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Peter Afunaya, on Friday, said no operation was carried out in the hotel, adding that the report was designed to embarrass the organisation.
He said: “The attention of the DSS has once again been drawn to a falsehood being circulated in the media that it dispersed doctors attending a Saudi Arabia organised job interview at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, yesterday 26th August, 2021.”
“Though this is illogical and does not add up, sections of the media that reported it did not care to verify the news before going to print. No further evidence was also adduced to prove that the DSS carried out such an operation at the hotel. It is obvious that the news is only designed to embarrass the Organisation.”
“Journalists and other media practitioners are enjoined to crosscheck their facts and ensure that they do not use their platforms to mislead the public or undermine national security.”
