The Department of State Services (DSS) has dismissed reports circulating online with the claims that the late official driver of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Sa’idu Afaka was tortured by the secret police before his death.
A statement by DSS Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya, released on Thursday in Abuja, said that reports in some section of the media claiming that the department tortured the late driver to death were misleading.
According to him, against the reported claims by Sahara Reporters, the late Buhari’s driver was never arrested nor detained by the department. He therefore, urged the public to disregard the fake news trending online.
The DSS stated, “While the said driver was never arrested or detained by the Service, it is a known fact that it does not torture suspects. Its suspect handling method is usually in compliance with the tenets of criminal justice administration system and democracy.”
Recall that The New Diplomat had on April 6, 2021 reported that Sa’idu Afaka died at the State House Clinic, Abuja, after a prolonged illness.
Reacting to Afaka’s demise through a statement by the Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, President Buhari condoled with the government and people of Kaduna State.
The President described the late Afaka as an honest and reliable person who carried out his job dutifully.
President Buhari recalled how Afaka showed integrity by returning a bag he found in Saudi Arabia, which contained huge sum of dollars, while on pilgrimage in 2016. Afaka upon discovering the bag contained huge sums of money, handed it over to the Hajj Commission officials. The action also generated lot of praises from the Saudi and Nigerian authorities.
President Buhari also prayed to Almighty Allah to “bless the soul of the departed with an elevated place in heavens.”
The President also prayed to God to grant the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.
