The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied media and social media reports that it is laying siege on Premium Times and that it has hacked the phones of some staff.
In a statement on Sunday by DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, the agency urged Nigerians to disregard the reports.
“The report that the DSS is laying siege on Premium Times and has hacked the phones of one of its staff is false in its entirety.
“It is unfounded and just a needless sensationalism. There is no such operation at the moment by the Service targeted at the Premium Times, its editor or staff.
“If there is any need for the DSS to discharge its duty, it sure have to do that with every sense of decency and in accordance with laid down procedures.
He added that, “Now the Service is not anywhere near the news agency. Therefore, the report should be disregarded.”