The Department of State Services (DSS) has released two journalists of Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, Plateau State, who were wrongfully arrested during the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state for the burial of the mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe.

According to a reliable security source, the journalists — Ms. Ruth Marcus and Ms. Keshia Jang — were released on the orders of the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, after he was informed that some overzealous operatives had detained them.

The source disclosed that the Service immediately contacted the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, to convey the Director-General’s personal apologies. The DG reportedly assured the NUJ President that the new DSS leadership upholds the importance of a free press in a democracy and has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident. He also pledged that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action.

“The new DG is committed to correcting the wrongs he inherited, including issues of overzealousness,” the source stated. “He has always been quick to acknowledge when the Service makes mistakes. We have witnessed several instances where the DSS apologised and even compensated victims of wrongful arrests. The DG is an absolute lover of human rights and press freedom. You may recall that some time ago, he also apologised to the management of TVC over the alleged harassment and intimidation of one of its reporters,” the source added.