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Tag: DSS

  • There are plans to stage violent protests, says DSS

    There are plans to stage violent protests, says DSS

    The Department of State Services (DSS) said it has uncovered plans by some persons in parts of the country to stage violent protests.

    Public Relations Officer, DSS National Headquarters, Dr Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Monday said those behind it intend to discredit the Federal Government and security agencies.

    The statement was titled: “DSS DISCOVERS PLOT TO STAGE VIOLENT PROTESTS IN THE COUNTRY”.

    Afunanya said intelligence reports indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic based associations, youth and disgruntled groups for the planned action. 

    The statement reads, “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has uncovered plans by some elements in parts of the country to stage violent protests in order to discredit the Federal Government and security agencies over sundry socio-economic matters. 

    Read Also: DSS releases CBN Deputy Gov Kingsley Obiora from detention

    “The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has uncovered plans by some elements in parts of the country to stage violent protests in order to discredit the Federal Government and security agencies over sundry socio-economic matters.

    “Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic based associations, youth and disgruntled groups for the planned action. 

    “Meanwhile, the Service has identified the ring leaders of the plot as well as sustained monitoring around them in order to deter them from plunging the country into anarchy. 

    “In view of this development, University Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Tertiary Institutions are advised to discourage their students from engaging in acts capable of derailing public peace. 

    “Also, parents and guardians are enjoined to admonish their children and wards respectively to shun the lure of participating in inimical behaviours or conducts against law and order.  

    “While the DSS is aware of Government’s efforts and determination to resolve some of the challenges confronting the nation, it warns those desirous of subverting national security to retrace their steps. 

    “This is more so that it will not hesitate to legally come against persons and groups behind the devious plans.”

  • Anxiety in CBN as DSS quizzes deputy governor

    Anxiety in CBN as DSS quizzes deputy governor

    Staff, especially senior officials, of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are now living in fear following the detention of the apex bank’s deputy governor  in charge of Economic Policy, Obiora Kingsley, by the Department of State Services (DSS)  over the ongoing investigation of the suspended governor Godwin Emefiele.

    Emefiele has been in DSS detention since his suspension from office in June over his management of the nation’s resources during his tenure.

    Security sources confirmed to The Nation yesterday in Abuja that Obiora was “invited as part of an ongoing investigation.”

    Read Also; Over 80 percent of Nigerians use traditional medicines, says FG

    “Investigation is a large and continuous process and wherever an investigation leads should be followed,” one of the sources said.

    He added: “Whoever an investigation leads to has to be invited to answer questions as the probe pertains to such person.”

    The source declined to elaborate saying: “all I can say is that he was invited for questioning over an ongoing investigation.”

    Spokesman of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, declined to respond to our questions on the matter.

    Some other sources said  the Jim Obaze led Special Panel  investigating the Emefiele years in the CBN might use Obiora as  a witness against the suspended bank chief.

  • VIDEO: Edo Deputy Gov Shaibu storms out of event after DSS bars aides from venue

    VIDEO: Edo Deputy Gov Shaibu storms out of event after DSS bars aides from venue

    Edo Deputy Gov Shaibu storms out of event after DSS bars aides from venue

  • Drama as DSS blocks Shaibu from greeting Obaseki in Church

    Drama as DSS blocks Shaibu from greeting Obaseki in Church

    The simmering crisis between Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, took a new twist on Sunday, August 27, as the Department of State Services (DSS), denied him access to the governor.

    The incident happened at the New Festival Hall of Government House, Benin, on Sunday, at a church service to mark the 32nd anniversary of the creation of Edo State.

    Shaibu, who was one of the guests, stood up to greet Obaseki, but a DSS operative blocked him just a few metres away.

    Read Also: Shaibu pledges absolute loyalty to Obaseki

    Obaseki, who sat beside his wife, Betsy, and Charles Aniagwu, a Commissioner of Delta State, looked away as Shaibu fruitlessly explained to the plain-cloth security operative who stood his ground.

    The deputy governor later returned to his seat.

    However, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Andrew Okungbowa, while commenting on the issue said the DSS operative was only doing his job.

    He said: “Whatever happened at the church service was not at the behest of the governor, neither was he aware of what the security aides were doing. In fact, the security aides were doing their job. Besides, the governor was not aware that the deputy was coming to greet him. The church is a public event, so the security aides had a duty to safeguard their principal.”

  • Many feared dead as gunmen attack IPOB protest in Enugu community

    Many feared dead as gunmen attack IPOB protest in Enugu community

    Many people were feared dead In Ugbakwu at Eha-Amufu, Enugu, on a Sunday afternoon after a confrontation between indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and some gunmen.

    The clash reportedly began around 5pm when some the guunmen disrupted an IPOB gathering at the Eha Market Square beside community secondary school Ugbakwu with the aim of dispersing the group and making arrests.

    The situation escalated as the gunmen allegedly overpowered the IPOB members and proceeded to target the leader, Obiajulu Ejimede.

    According to eyewitnesses, he was the head of the group who stood firm for freedom.

    In response, a heavily armed security team, including the Police, Army and DSS, arrived in several patrol vehicles and launched a crackdown on the scene.

    Gunfire and tear gas filled the area, spanning St. Joseph Catholic Church along the Old Mba Road.

    Eyewitnesses described the premises of St Joseph Catholic Church as chaotic, with reports of violence and bloodshed, as fleeing IPOB members and the gunmen were pursued. The violence disrupted the environment, causing serious death and injuries.

    The incident started on December, 2022 at Eha-amufu community, in Isi-Uzo local government where residents discovered the bodies of residents with bullet wounds after armed men attacked their community.

    This made the community to start pointing hands and accusing Obiajulu Ejimede who was the main leader of the gathering, for organising the protest.

    He was involved in the protest to champion the creation of Biafra Republic but there was misunderstanding when the gunmen ambushed the protesters causing the military and police to intervene.

    They later opened fire, killing several of them. He died from a gunshot wound.

    The community blamed Ejimede and claimed they had tried to warn him against organising the protest because they feared it might result in violence in their community, but he did not listen.

    Read Also: Alleged money laundering: Court denies El-Rufai’s ex-Chief of Staff bail

    Armed plain clothed men have also allegedly visited the community to trace members of his family after his dead body was found on 22nd December. They have also taken some young men for questioning and are yet to return them.

    A source from the community said many youths have fled the community, which has become a ghost of itself because the youths of the community now fear for their safety.

    Among some of the youths that are running for their lives are Ifeanyi Asogwa, Afamefuna Ude, Obiajulu Ejimede son named Emeka Emmanuel Ejimede, Uchenna Umeh and Azubuike Okereke and others.

    A leader of a community, Ogbuabor Samuel, also confirmed the attack. “Several people have been killed, at least we have recovered the bodies of ten people,” he said.

    “As I speak to you, we are combing bushes in search of those killed. I can’t tell now the exact number of people killed as we are still combing the bushes,” another source said.

    Enugu police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the development.

    He said: “Sketchy report at my disposal shows that there was an attack, but the assailants were repelled by a joint Police and Army Team that is currently tracking them.”

  • DSS should obey

    •El-Zakzaky deserves to be tried in good health

    He welcome the judgment of the Kaduna State High Court which granted the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheik El-Zakzaky and wife, Zeenat, a reprieve to seek medical attention in India. El-Zakzaky, who is the leader of Shiites in Nigeria, and his wife have been in detention since 2015 despite a Federal High Court order granting them bail, on terms. While the Federal Government filed an appeal against that bail, the Kaduna State government is also prosecuting him and his wife for various offences.

    Following an application filed on behalf of the couple by their lawyer, Femi Falana, the state high court granted them the permission to travel to India for medical attention. Unlike in previous instances, the Department of State Services (DSS) has indicated its willingness to obey the order of the Kaduna State High Court. We hope it will not be persuaded by other considerations to change its mind. After all, the DSS refused to obey the earlier order granting bail to the IMN leader.

    On its part, the Kaduna State government has indicated its intention to appeal the decision of the high court of the state. The appeal was however yet to be filed as at yesterday. While we concede the right to appeal to the state, we think there is no moral justification for such step. We wonder what the state government intends to achieve by filing an appeal against a conditional approval by a court for citizens to seek medical attention.

    Of course, we know that the crisis arising from his continued detention is not enough reason to free him if the court holds otherwise, but in this instance, the court believed his lawyer’s submission that he needs urgent medical attention and has granted him the permission to travel. So, what does the state government stand to gain, when the court granted him permission on condition that he returns to face his trial? We think Kaduna State government is acting unreasonably, everything considered.

    The only reservation we have about the court order is that it affirms the comatose state of our nation’s medical infrastructure. To the shame of our country, it has become normal for public figures to travel abroad for the basest of ailments. Worse still, politically exposed persons standing trial for stealing humongous resources from our common treasury are allowed by courts to travel abroad for medical attention, while the ordinary Nigerians are left to grapple with the decayed medical facilities, which the stealing has made endemic.

    So, if those who have allegedly stolen from our common patrimony could be granted unconditional leave to travel abroad for medical attention, what excuse will justify incarcerating El-Zakzaky and his wife, and denying them a chance to live, however offensive their religious practices are alleged to be. As we argued on this page recently, the continued detention of El-Zakzaky has morphed from a mere legal issue to a political and cultural ferment. Any effort to reduce the continued detention to a mere legal tussle is an effort in futility.

    If the detention is a mere matter of law, the Federal Government would have since released him, after the order of the Federal High Court. Indeed, if that order had been obeyed, perhaps he would not be in need of urgent medical attention abroad. If the argument of El-Zakzaky’s lawyers are true, it is the actions of government that have put the man’s health in jeopardy. So, the government of Kaduna State must exercise restraint on this matter in the overall interest of all Nigerians who suffered the brunt of the crisis.

  • DSS as political police

    SIR: The Department of State Security cannot be accused of being fair-handed and unprejudiced. It has always been the political police of the existing regime. I recall in 2014 when agents of the service invaded the offices of the APC in search of incriminating materials; hounded the staff of the party and made a spectacle of them for droll offences. The agency was serving the PDP government at the time, now it is serving another regime – the same pattern; the same objective; the same repression; the same pursuit.

    But when will the DSS serve Nigerians and not a regime, considering that it is being funded by taxpayers? In the US, the FBI, an equivalent of Nigeria’s secret police, put the interest of American citizens first. It exists to protect public interest; not regime interest. In fact, the FBI in its pursuit of citizens’ interest brought down the dubious Nixon administration.

    In the book, ‘Mark Felt: The man who brought down the White House’, Felt, a former FBI deputy director, evinced how the secret service remained undaunted, irrepressible and independent in the face of threats, manoeuvrings and caterwauling by the Nixon White House. Again, this only happens when a security agency exists to protect “public interest”, and not “regime interest.’’

    A few weeks ago, a group of mouthpieces from a section of the country hopped on television to issue threats and ultimatums.  They lent the federal government 30 days to reverse its decision on Ruga settlements or risk a boycott of peace meetings, and the ensuing of violence. What did the DSS do in this case? Rather, the agency saddled itself with hounding citizens who were protesting against killings and kidnappings by bandits.

    The DSS is a critical security agency that must not lend itself to the neurotic pursuits of a regime. The arrest of Omoyele Sowore, ex-presidential candidate, by the secret police is reminiscent of an ‘era of tears, sorrow and blood’ in Nigeria; an epoch of oppression and suppression. The manner of his arrest is condemnable; invading his residence at 1:30am and breaking doors like armed robbers. What happened to invitations?

    The DSS must evolve. It should not be suspended in a militarised past. The agency must serve public interest and not regime interest. It must understand civil protest is democratic.

    Nigeria needs an ideological revolution. I respect the rights of other citizens to protest peacefully and seek a change in the system. We need a revolution in our thinking, habits, attitude and patterns. This is the revolution we need. Only a non-performing government will be afraid of citizens’ protests or interpret civil actions as subversion.

    The DSS should not be political police. Governments will come and go, but the DSS will remain. The integrity of the agency should matter to it.

     

    • Fredrick Nwabufo,

    fredricknwabufo@yahoo.com

  • DSS parades ‘fake doctor’ for killing 15 patients

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has paraded a man described as a fake doctor, Ibrahim Mustapha, having operated illegally under the Adamawa State government since 2015.

    DSS State Director of Security, Bola Olori, paraded the suspect yesterday in Yola, the state capital.

    He said Mustapha, who allegedly started his alleged fake practice as a ward attendant in Gombe State, was employed in Adamawa as a doctor with alleged forged medical certificates.

    Olori said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that Mustapha holds an NBTE certificate. He perfected the act in Gombe State, where he worked as a ward attendant in several clinics.

    “He was aided by a practising doctor who gave him sample copies of his NECO result, MBBS of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and that of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) annual registration licence, all of which he forged.

    Read Also: An Ex-DSS assistance bitter-sweet experience as a security operative

    “The suspect subsequently gained employment into the Adamawa State Health Management Board in October 2015 as a doctor and rose to the post of Principal Medical Officer, serving at the cottage hospitals in Mayo Belwa and Fufore.

    “Prior to his arrest, the suspect, in the past five years, performed hundreds of surgical operations in several hospitals in the state.

    The suspect and his accomplice have been taken into custody. They will be prosecuted after investigations.”

    The DSS director did not mention the number of casualties the suspect caused, but Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was quoted on Wednesday to have accused the suspect of causing the death of 15 people.

    The governor spoke during a ministerial briefing in Yola, saying a fake doctor who was employed in 2015 by the State Health Services Management Board was discovered to have attended a secondary school and only possessed a National Board for Technical Education (NABTEB) certificate.

    The governor said his administration will set up a committee to fish out quack doctors in the state and bring them to justice.

  • Justice Bulkachuwa not indicted by DSS, says official

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied that it indicted Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Chairman, Presidential Election Tribunal (PEPT), for bribery and corruption.

    DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya, made the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    He was reacting to reports of such indictment of the judge by the DSS.

    He urged the public to disregard the report, saying it only existed in the imagination of the authors.

    Afunanya described the report as “unfortunate”, adding that making the falsehood public was unethical.

    He said the service had commenced a detailed investigation into the controversies surrounding the publication.

    The spokesman advised politicians to be law-abiding and respect the process of litigations regarding the activities of the tribunal “and leave the service alone”.

    Assuring that the service would continue to collaborate with the media as strategic partners in nation-building, he warned mischief makers causing disaffection in the polity to desist from such acts as the full weight of the law would be visited on them.

    Afunnanya said:  “The DSS remains unwavering in providing the enabling environment for the pursuit of legitimate aspirations by well-meaning and law-abiding members of the populace.”

    The presidency has also slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for peddling the false news about the Court of Appeal President.

    But the PDP, through its spokesman, Kola Olagbodiyan, has denied the authorship of the allegation.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President Buhari on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, said in a statement in Abuja that reports claiming that the DSS had indicted Bulkachuwa of corruption were designed to cause disaffection between the executive and the judiciary.

    “While the PDP and its candidates are free to exercise their right to challenge the results of the 2019 presidential election, it is unacceptable to drag the name of the president or other organs of the executive branch into the campaign of character assassination against the President of the Court of Appeal.

    “The DSS doesn’t conduct its duties in the manner so described and you can’t use a fake security report to drag the presidency into a smear campaign against the President of the Court of Appeal.

    “Attacking judges because the outcomes of cases don’t favour you and keeping quiet when the verdict is in your favour smacks of insincerity, double standard and mischief. The PDP praised the verdict of the Osun gubernatorial election tribunal because it favoured them, but they are now singing a different tune because they lost their appeal.

    “If the PDP continues to blackmail and smear judges with fake news stories, we will ultimately find ourselves dealing with a situation where judges may be afraid to handle cases, thereby creating delays in the dispensation of justice.”

  • DSS denies accusing Bulkachuwa of bribery

    The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday dismissed as false  a media report  which claimed that the Chairman of the Presidential Election Tribunal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, was indicted for bribery and corruption by a certain Secret Memo of the Service.

    The agency said the memo existed only in the imagination of the writers and should be roundly disregarded by the reading public.

    Spokesman for the DSS Mr. Peter Afunanya accused the newspaper of publishing falsehood.

    The Service stated it has launched a detailed investigation into the controversy surrounding the said publication.

    Afunanya in a statement in Abuja said: “It is the wish of the Service that it is left out of the manoeuvres of politicians who are hereby advised to abide by the rule of law and respect the entire process of electoral litigations regarding the activities of the tribunal.

    Read also: DSS arrests 59 commercial sex workers in Calabar

    “The Service will continue to collaborate with the media as strategic partners in nation building and admonishes practitioners to be lawful and professional in the execution of their responsibility.”

    It warned mischief makers intent on causing disaffection in the polity are should desist from such acts as the full weight of the law will be visited on defaulters.

    The management of Authority Newspaper, in a statement, apologized for the publication.

    It said publication was immediately withdrawn when the attention of the editor was drawn to the online platform publication on May 9th, 2019.

    “Immediately the Editor noticed the said unauthorised publication, he ordered a pull-down of the said story from our online platform, which was complied with even before his invitation to your office.

    “The staff member responsible was also sanctioned,” the newspaper said in a statement by the Managing Editor/Editor-in-Chief Mr. Madu Onuorah.

    The Authority expressed an unreserved apology for the embarrassment the said story may have caused the DSS explaining “as a responsible media organisation, we have no intention to bring the DSS to disrepute, nor impinge on the integrity of the Justice.”