DSS vs SSS: Inibehe Effiong Questions Legality of Security Agency’s Name Following Social Media Debut

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong has called out the State Security Service (SSS) over its preference to go by the name Department of State Services (DSS) which he said has no legal backing.

A tweet signed by the security agency’s Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya on Wednesday, announced its debut on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook while also asking the public to disregard any old handles, which it tagged “fake”.

Responding to the tweet, Effiong said:
“Welcome to Twitter, can you explain why you prefer to go by “Department of State Services (DSS)”; instead of the State Security Service (SSS) as created by law? There’s no legal backing for the name DSS. It does not exist in law. We hope your presence isn’t to censor free speech”.

When a user @ogbeniDipo tweeted: “DSS is now on Twitter. Pity your parents and behave yourself. Don’t constitute nuisance and become a security threat to individuals and the nation”, Effiong responded that the agency is not on social media to regulate the views of Nigerians about their rulers.

“That’s not their mandate under the National Security Agencies Act.
SSS exist essentially for the internal security of Nigeria. It’s an intelligence gathering agency” he said.
See the tweets below.