Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for what it describes as an encouraging shift towards more professional, accountable and human rights-compliant intelligence operations.
In a statement in Abuja, HURIWA welcomed “the reported review of old DSS watchlists, including restrictions dating back decades, noting that outdated intelligence records should not continue to unjustifiably affect the liberty, dignity and freedom of movement of citizens.”
In a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA cited the resolution of the longstanding watchlist issue involving International Press Centre Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, as an example of the importance of periodically reviewing security classifications.
The association also commended the reported compensation of persons affected by wrongful detention, mistaken identity or operational errors.
“HURIWA maintains that acknowledging mistakes, providing redress and learning from operational failures can strengthen public confidence in security institutions.
“It equally welcomes reported reviews leading to the release of persons whose continued detention was no longer justified by available investigations.
“The association stresses that intelligence gathering must never become a substitute for due process,” noted the NGO.
“While recognising the DSS’s critical role in combating terrorism, kidnapping, violent extremism, espionage and other threats, HURIWA maintains that security enforcement must remain anchored on legality, necessity, proportionality and respect for fundamental rights,” the group added
HURIWA urged the DSS leadership to institutionalize reforms to strengthen dedicated mechanisms to monitor rights compliance, investigate complaints and recommend corrective action.
It recommended human rights impact assessments, periodic detention reviews, redress and compensation, and stronger civil society engagement: as measures to help the DSS achieve better results.
HURIWA also recommended mandatory continuous rights training for operatives, citizen complaint channels, responsible media engagement, and preventive, rights-based intelligence as measures that would help improve intelligence sharing and crime prevention to reduce unnecessary arrests and confrontation.
“We therefore commend Mr. Ajayi for the reform direction and urge him to consolidate the gains by making accountability, proportionality, due process, professional conduct and access to remedy permanent features of DSS operations,” declared HURIWA.
