The office of the editorial board member of THISDAY
Newspapers, Sonnie Ekwowusi, was on Tuesday invaded by operatives of the
Department of State Services (DSS).
He said the development was connected to a a ‘Pro-Life,
Pro-Family conference’ he was organizing, as well as a report condemning the
sexualisation of school children in Nigeria.
On Tuesday, the board member said the whole episode started
last Friday.
“I got a call from one Peter asking me to come over to the
DSS office at Shangisha in Lagos.
“When I told them I could’t make it, they sent some
operatives to my office. They ransacked it and made away with some files.
“The DSS invaded my office over a pro-life, pro-family
conference I am involved in. They said they wanted to find out if the
conference was registered.
“So yesterday, I went to their office and met the same Peter
who told me he was dashing to somewhere and would have to re-invite me.
“What are the functions of the DSS? Can they dabble into
conference matters? What has national security got to do with women’s rights
which is what we are championing?
“From what I gathered from sources, a group of women
petitioned the DSS about our forthcoming Pro-Life, Pro-Family conference,
claiming that what we stand for is against their interest.
“Meanwhile, what our conference stands for is championing
women and child’s rights. We have held it for five years and this year, it will
take place at NIIA, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“We have the conference in partnership with the Lagos State
Government and the state House of Assembly. Our past conferences have helped
the government to make laws on domestic violence.”
By Wale Odunsi
