14th November, 2021
Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services, DSS,has said it was not involved in the disappearance and death of Vanguard journalist, Tordue Salem in any way.
Spokesperson for DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya told reporters at a one-day seminar organised for media practitioners in Abuja that the Service did not arrest, detain or have anything to do with Tordue.
The remains of Salem who was reported missing on 13 October, 2021 was discovered at the Wuse General Hospital on Friday.
However, before the remains of the journalist was found, a senator from Benue State, Emmanuel Orker-Jev had said pressure should be mounted on security agencies to produce Torduem who was from his constituency.
However, Afunaya said DSS did not and has no reason to hold the deceased journalist at any time.
“The Department of State Services did not arrest, detain or have a hand in Salem’s death.
“Moreso, Salem was not covering or related in any way to any security institution or beat and had not done anything to attract any security attention.
“The DSS being a responsible organisation does not embark on indiscriminate and secret arrest and detention or killing of anybody and could therefore not have arrested or detained the dead journalist.
“Whenever we have justifiable reason to arrest or detain anyone, we always make it public and give reasons for such action in accordance with the rules of our engagement,” the DSS Spokesman said.