The Department of State Service, DSS, has moved to sanction its personnel who arrested and detained two female journalists who were covering the funeral service of the late mother of the National Charman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday.
The journalists, Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, both of Jay 101.9 FM, were arrested when they posted a video report of an altercation between some security details and clerics at the Church of Christ in Nations, COCIN, Headquarters Church, where the funeral was held.
In a video footage posted on the Facebook page of Jay FM, some clerics were seen protesting angrily after they were denied access into the church.
After the video went viral, the DSS officers promptly arrested Marcus and Jang, and whisked them to an unknown destination.
The arrest of the duo caused serious outrage with the radio station releasing a statement that their staff were missing.
Following the public outcry and the attention the arrest generated, the DSS was forced to release the journalists.
But despite the release of the journalists, reports on Monday indicated that the agency will take serious action against the overzealous officers who arrested the Jay FM reporters.
It was gathered that the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi, has ordered disciplinary action against the officers involved in the arrest and detention of Marcus and Jang, amid a promise that the agency would not to allow its officers take laws into their hands.
A source within the DSS who confirmed the move by the DG on the condition of anonymity, said though the action of the personnel who arrested the journalists was a mistake and the agency has apologized, the DG has decided that they must face disciplinary action to serve as a deterrent to others.
The source added that officers involved have been identified and disciplinary measures are already being implemented in compliance with the directive of the DG.
DSS to sanction officials who arrested female journalists in Plateau