Group condemns DSS invasion of AK govt. house

Following the recent invasion of Akwa Ibom  State Government House by men of the Department of State Service, a group known as Akwa Ibom Democratic Watch has condemned the act and described it as illegal and unlawful.

In a press statement signed by coordinators of the group in the three Senatorial Districts Obong Godwin Ekpo (Uyo), Hon. Uduot Jack (Ikot Ikpene) and Deacon Ibanga Etang (Eket) and made available to THE INK on Wednesday, the group said DSS did not have any authorized search warrant as provided by the law to search the Government House and that DSS should have informed the Governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the State before coming.

According to the statement, “We have few posers for the Director General of the SSS: who authorized this invasion? Was a search warrant obtained as provided by the law? Was the Governor as the landlord notified by the visit? Under which law is this type of mission allowed? Could you have authorized this type of operation in a northern state? Does the immunity from prosecution enjoyed by a Governor not cover his official residence i.e does an invasion of his official residence not erode on the immunity enjoyed by the Governor?” 

 The group further appealed to president Buhari to set up an investigating panel to thoroughly investigate the circumstance that led to the invasion which described as humiliating encounter as well as demand an apology from the Director General of SSS.

They call on all security agencies in the country to operate under the rule law, saying that attempt at the executive recklessness will be seriously frowned and that security agencies must know that they serve the people as well as the government, adding that the fundamental human rights and constitutional safeguards must be enforced to the later.

The statement reads “We will be watching to see what decisive actions will be taken to reassure the Government and people of Akwa Ibom of the neutrality and protection of the Federal Government. At a time like this, our federal government should issues and economic recovery of the country, than engage in mundane fights stirred by partisan stimuli, which are very discordant with democratic norms.”