The Department of State Services (DSS) has abducted Edna Ulaeto, a staff member of OrderPaper, a platform dedicated to writing reports about Nigeria’s legislative chambers.
Via a statement issued on Friday night, OrderPaper said Ulaeto was in her nightwear when operatives of the secret police stormed her house, “manhandled and whisked [her] away”.
They said they suspected the action was connected to an erroneous Wednesday report titled ‘DSS takes over NASS amid impeachment speculations’.
The paper published an apology and retraction on Friday and deleted the erroneous report.
After Ulaeto’s disappearance, the paper’s management issued a statement which read, “Today, October 18, 2024, a group of armed men, identifying themselves as officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), forcefully stormed the home of an OrderPaper staff member, Edna Ulaeto, and abducted her without any explanation. The young lady, still in her casual nightwear, was violently manhandled and whisked away to an unknown destination, leaving her family and neighbours in shock and fear. Shockingly, it has come to light that her phone number was illegally tracked, a tactic typically reserved for dangerous criminals, not innocent media staff.
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“OrderPaper suspects this cruel and unjust act is connected to a recent news article that mistakenly reported on an alleged DSS invasion of the National Assembly, supposedly to block an attempt to impeach the Senate President. Despite immediately issuing a retraction and public apology, masked men broke into her home, tore through her personal belongings, and caused immense trauma to her and her family.
“Neighbours who attempted to follow or capture the horrifying event were shoved aside, with some forced to delete photos and videos under the threat of arrest. No official notice or invitation was ever sent to the individual or OrderPaper by the DSS or police, raising serious concerns of foul play. Since the abduction, all efforts to reach her have failed, intensifying fears for her safety.
“This brazen, terrifying act has left the entire staff of OrderPaper living in fear, uncertain of what may happen next. We urgently call on the public, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and the international community to demand her immediate release and to ensure her safety. Join us in condemning this unlawful attack on press freedom and basic human rights before it is too late.”
Although OrderPaper did not sign the statement with a name, an insider confirmed its authenticity to FIJ and said the management was following up with the matter.
On Saturday, FIJ called Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, but he did not answer the phone calls. At press time, he had not responded to a text message FIJ sent.
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