DSS denies arresting evangelist over false Nasarawa attack claims

The Department of State Services has debunk claims circulating on social media that it arrested one Evangelist Ukpo Daniel for allegedly raising a false alarm in a video claiming that Fulani herdsmen attacked a crusade in Agboda Village, Nasarawa State.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Service described the Facebook post as “false and misleading,” noting that it appeared “intended to cast the Service in bad light as well as steer public tension.”

The release was signed by Favour Dozie, Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, National Headquarters, State Services, Abuja.

The DSS clarified, “Evangelist Ukpo Daniel was never invited nor arrested by the DSS.

“His spouse, Elizabeth, who originated the post, when contacted, confirmed that she was with him at the police headquarters, Lafia.”

The statement warned that such misrepresentations could be dangerous.

“The Service views such misrepresentations in ways that could inflame tension or disrupt ongoing operations, seriously,” it further read.

It advised the public to rely only on verified sources.

It concluded, “Consequently, the Service advises the public to depend on verified information and communication channels to stem the spate of disinformation that may be exploited to further distort national security.”

The clarification by the DSS comes in the wake of widespread social media reports suggesting that herdsmen had disrupted a crusade in Agboda Village, Nasarawa State, forcing worshippers to flee.

Earlier, the Nasarawa State Police Command had debunked the claims, stating that no such attack occurred.

The police spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, explained that the incident involved an isolated robbery in which a motorcyclist was injured, while the video circulating online had been misrepresented.