Harassment and Intimidation by the State Security Service, Rivers State

On March 14, 2010 I learnt that State Security Service operatives had obtained my phone records from MTN Nigeria and were interviewing certain individuals who I maintain telephone contact with.  

These operatives, who are from the Rivers State Command, have been harassing and intimidating my associates under the pretext that I have been involved in a mysterious "security breach" in which an individual's email account was hacked and emails exchanged with her university.

Interestingly, these so-called operatives have refused to approach me directly despite the fact that they are in possession of my telephone number. Rather, they have adopted a clandestine approach that is designed to impugn my character and cast me in bad light among my friends, relatives and associates. They have also caused me psychological torture by interfering with my phone calls and calling me with strange numbers.

I understand that these so-called operatives have explicit instructions to take me to Rivers State where they ostensibly intend to torture me and keep me incommunicado.

I find the actions of these so-called Rivers S.S.S operatives suspicious. Assuming that they are really genuine officers of the S.S.S, why are they so keen on smuggling me to Rivers State for a purported offence that has nothing to with national security? I would also like to point out that I have never been to Rivers State and so could not have committed any such offence in that territory.

My investigations have led me to believe that these operatives are on a private mission, which is being sponsored by powerful Rivers-based individuals who think that I have dealings with their political rivals. Separately, I am yet to confirm if MTN released my phone records in compliance with a court order and I hope that the telecommunications company has not released my phone records as a result of pressure from private individuals. 

I am writing this letter in order to inform the general public and the press of my ordeal at the hands of the S.S.S in case I am abducted by this infamous organ of the Nigerian state.

Chike C. Eze

President, Youth Democratic Forum.

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