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Tag: DSS

  • Court strikes out Suswam’s N10bn suit against DSS, AGF

    Court strikes out Suswam’s N10bn suit against DSS, AGF

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N10billion suit filed by  former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam against the Department of State Services, its Director-General, Lawal Daura, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole in a ruling yesterday, said he would strike the suit out because of an application by Suswam’s lawyer Joseph Daudu (SAN), for the withdrawal of the suit.

    Suswam filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit, shortly after he was arrested on February 25, 2017.

    He was released from the custody of the DSS on May 7 after spending about 70 days in detention, the ex-governor was in court .

    Suswam, who is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Ahmed Mohammed (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja), was absent in court on Tuesday when the case came up.

    Although his co-defendant, Omadachi Oklobia (Finance Commissioner under Suswam) was in court, Suswam was said to be indisposed.They are being tried for allegedly diverting Benue State’s funds estimated at over N3billion.

    The office of the AGF also, on March 27 filed a 32-count charge against Suswam and the two others, accusing them of diverting the sum of N9,791,602,453.8, part of which was meant for police reform and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

    Also named in the charge are Oklobia, and former Accountant, Benue State Government House Administration, Mrs. Janet Aluga.

    They were to be arraigbed on the new charge on April 11, but for the absence of Suswam, who was by then, in the custody of the DSS.

    The development prompted Justice Kolawole to order the DSS to ptoduce him on the next date and adjourned to May 11.

    It is not clear if Suswam, said to be indisposed, will attend court today on his own, since the DSS that the judge ordered to produce him has released him.

  • ‘N11b fuel theft’: Court orders DSS to produce Ubah

    ‘N11b fuel theft’: Court orders DSS to produce Ubah

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited Ifeanyi Ubah on Friday.

    Justice Mohammed Idris ruled on an ex-parte application by Ubah through his counsel, Mrs. Ifeoma Esom.

    The businessman is praying the court to compel DSS to release him from its custody.

    Esom argued that unless the court orders the applicant to be produced in court within 48 hours, the DSS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will continue to keep him in their custody.

    She said they ought “coerce him into acceding to whatever conditions they impose on him in exchange for his freedom”.

    The EFCC, the DSS Director-General, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) are among the respondents.

    DSS arrested Ubah for alleged “economic sabotage” and “illegal sale of petroleum products stored in his tank farm by the NNPC”.

    “So far, it has been established that the products stolen amount to over N11billion,” the DSS said in a statement.

    In a supporting affidavit to Ubah’s application, Capital Oil’s Secretary, George Oranuba, said the DSS acted in disregard of “the constitutional doctrine of separation of power and sanctity of the judicial process”.

    According to him, the arrest was over allegations made by the NNPC and AMCON, which were already subject of a lawsuit.

    “Notwithstanding the pendency of this suit and the service of the originating process as aforesaid, the respondents again invited Ubah to report to their offices in respect of the same allegations made by the NNPC and AMCON, which is the subject matter of the instant suit,” Oranuba said.

    Oranuba said a “throughput agreement” between Capital Oil and NNPC allows for “conversion and diversion of products by ‘operators’ so long as the operator is prepared to re-deliver the products within seven days of demand by the products owner or to pay a penalty for non-redelivery”.

    According to him, the failure to re-deliver was a “mere” breach of contract, which can be remedied by the payment of penalty to the owner, and was not a criminal act.

    “The throughput agreement expressly states that any penalty due for non-re-delivery is to be treated as a debt and I verily believe that law enforcement agencies are not allowed to operate as debt collectors,” the deponent said.

    Oranuba said NNPC was indebted to Capitol Oil in “excess of N13 billion”, yet the company did not call law enforcement agencies to collect the debt.

    The DSS claimed Ubah had further engaged “in other activities inimical to national security and public order”.

    “In furtherance of his gimmicks to undermine the government and people of Nigeria, he has incited members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a critical player in the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry, to refuse/stop the lifting of products,” it said.

    But, the PTD wing of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) faulted the DSS over the allegation, saying no individual or institution can be allowed to use tanker drivers to cause economic sabotage.

     

  • N15m judgment: ‘DSS plans to kill me’

    •Activist: my lawyer, judge in danger •National Assembly must intervene

    A rights’ activist and founder of anti-corruption watchdog, Integrity Group, Livingstone Wechie, has raised the alarm on an alleged threat to his life.

    The activist said a lawyer attached to the Office of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, Chukwuemeka Simeon Eke, was behind the alleged threat.

    But Eke denied threatening Wechie, his lawyer and the judge.

    In a petition he addressed to the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, Wechie said the lives of his lawyer, Eugene Odey, and the judge, who delivered the judgment, Justice George Omereji, were also under threat.

    He urged the lawmakers to save them from the security agency before it is too late.

    In a document attached to his petition, Wechie said the threat followed a N15 million judgment he won against the DSS in a case of fundamental human rights abuse he filed in 2015.

    He said Eke, who defended DSS in the matter, was apparently unhappy with the victory and compensation awarded to him by Justice George Omereji of the State High Court.

    The petitioner said the DSS counsel might want to silence him, his lawyer and the judge, to stop execution of the judgment.

    Wechie said the DSS lawyer had allegedly been making threat calls since the preparation to execute judgment early this year.

    According to him, Eke made threat calls to Odey, warning him to stop further moves to recover the judgment debt or face the consequences.

    Eke told reporters the allegation was unfounded.

    Wechie’s petition, as signed by Odey, reads: “Save Our Souls (Livingstone Wechie and Eugene Odey Esq), from the State Security Services (aka DSS) assassination threat against Chukwuemeka Simeon Eke.

    “My client had approached the Rivers State High Court through our office for the enforcement of his fundamental rights against the DSS due to the incessant harassment, arrest, detention and other abuses of his fundamental rights by the DSS who he claimed (allegedly) threatened to cook up treason trial against him, bugged/wiretapped his phones lines.

    “Without denial in court by the DSS, especially because he attempted to organise the “Occupy Nigeria, Season 2” protest against the Federal Government of Nigeria for unilaterally increasing the petroleum pump price without the concurs of the majority of Nigerians and his advocacies for a thorough and balanced anti-graft war by the Federal Government and call for the investigation of Rotimi Amaechi over alleged looting of Rivers treasury.

    “Justice Omereji of the Rivers State High Court, after keenly contested argument, gave judgment against the DSS and awarded N15 million in damages and cost of litigation in favour of my client. He declared that the incessant harassment, unwarranted and unlawful invitations and detention of Mr Wechie by the DSS amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental rights, as guaranteed by statutes.

    “The court also made an order directing the DSS to stop further harassment and unwarranted invitations and detention of the applicant – my client. We have consequently started garnishee proceedings to execute the judgment of the court.

    “However, at 6.42 p.m on April 27, I received a telephone call from the counsel to DSS, Mr Eke, through a mobile number 08157941777, where he expressed his displeasure and anger about the way I was handling the matter in executing the judgment. He said whatever I was looking for I would not get it and that he would come after me and my client, Wechie. He vowed to ‘deploy the apparatus of state’ against us and the judicial officers handling the matter, including the judge, Justice George Omereji, if I do not back off from the matter.”

     

    “The phone number with which the lawyer to the DSS, who is also an official of the DSS, used in calling me is: 08157941777. It is an official line of the DSS from Trucaller software application. The name on the number was DLS RVCOMMAND, which is for the Director of Legal Services of Rivers State Command. This doubtlessly follows that the call threatening to assassinate me and Wechie was sanctioned and executed by the DSS, which (also) shows that it is an official threat by the agency issued for and on behalf of the DSS by Mr Eze…

    “After making this statement, he cut the line. Efforts to call him back proved abortive as he refused to pick his calls. I sent him a text, acknowledging the threat to my life, that of my client and the judicial officers. It was after this he sent me a reply as though my message was misplaced and uncalled for. This is because, according to him, he was only calling to ask me about out NBA meeting held earlier that day.

    “Please, note sir, he has never called me before now. I am not a member of the Exco of Port Harcourt NBA’s branch; neither am I a worker of the DSS. I must add that the counsel is not my first-name pal to be calling and asking me such questions on the day I appeared before the judge to garnishee their accounts in the banks.

    “Frankly, the call from the DSS counsel to me and the threat to exterminate us or possibly compromise our physical integrity is one that we do not intend to wave with a hand. This is because we believe there is more to the call than it seems, deploying the apparatus of state against me, my client and the judicial officers, including the judge in the matter, Justice George Omereji. This is a threat that is gathering and very weighty, considering the ugly antecedents of the DSS in recent times and continuous trail of my client. To my mind, it may mean using the apparatus of state to assassinate any or all of us. Mr Speaker, we know how state-sponsored crimes are treated in this country.

    “It is, therefore, in the light of the foregoing I call on you to use your good office and intervene by calling the counsel concerned and the DSS to order to avert any ugly situation that may cost the lives of innocent Nigerians.”

     

     

  • Wike seeks order restraining DSS, EFCC from searching his homes

    Wike seeks order restraining DSS, EFCC from searching his homes

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS) and the police from searching his homes.
    He prayed the court to declare that the search will violate his constitutionally-guaranteed immunity.
    The governor accused the security agences of a witch-hunt, and an attempt to implicate him in an unspecified crime.
    Wike, through his lawyer, Mr. Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN), prayed the court to determine whether Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution precludes defendants from applying for and obtaining any process of court compelling his appearance.
    The governor sought an order that the defendants, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or privies, cannot apply for, obtain, issue, or in any way, execute any search warrant at his residence when his tenure as governor has not expired.
    He also asked for an order of injunction restraining the defendants from applying for, issuing or entering his residence in Abuja, or anywhere else in Nigeria, by virtue of a search warrant or any court process, which shall compel or require his presence.
    The governor asked the court to bar them from searching his apartment with a view to removing any item during his tenure as governor, since his immunity is preserved by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.
    In an affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), said he knows Wike, who was sworn in as Rivers State governor on May 29, 2015, for a four-year term.
    He said the governor held a news conference on April 29, in Port Harcourt, where he said the inspector-general of Police intends to raid his (Wike’s) Abuja residence on Ortega Close, off Hassan Usman Katina Street, Asokoro Extension.
    “The intendment of the raid, according to the plaintiff, is to incriminate him in an unspecified crime through the recovery of huge sums of money, firearms and expensive wristwatches.
    “The plaintiff’s news conference received wide publicity in the print and electronic media. I was further informed by the plaintiff at his Hassan Usman Katsina home, about 8pm on May 1, and I do believe him, that he knows, on good authority, that the defendants had begun the process of either applying for, or obtaining, or have already obtained a search warrant to be executed at either his aforementioned residence or some other residence of his in Port Harcourt.
    “I know as a fact that a search warrant is a process of court. I also know that the plaintiff or his privy, is obligated to be present during the conduct of the search at his premises.
    “I further know, as a fact, that the owner of a building is obligated to give unhindered access to his premises to the defendants, while the defendants are executing a search warrant.
    “If not restrained by a court order, the defendants shall proceed to execute the said search warrant,” he said.
    The respondent said Wike has not committed any criminal offence, besides being vested with constitutional immunity.
    “The actions of the defendant shall violate his constitutional immunity; the defendants are witch-hunting him to silence and tarnish his hard-earned reputation.
    “The defendants shall lose nothing if this application is granted. I make the depositions herein in good faith, believing the facts stated herein to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act,” the affidavit added.

  • Wike seeks order restraining DSS, EFCC from searching his homes

    Wike seeks order restraining DSS, EFCC from searching his homes

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Services (DSS) and the police from searching his homes.

    He prayed the court to declare the search would violate his constitutionally-guaranteed immunity.

    The governor accused the security agences of witch-hunting, and trying to implicate him in an unspecified crime.

    Wike, through his lawyer, Mr. Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN), prayed the court to determine whether Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution precludes the defendants from applying for and obtaining any process of court compelling his appearance.

    The governor prayed for an order that the defendants, whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or privies, cannot apply for, obtain, issue, or in any way, execute any search warrant at his residence when his tenure as governor had not expired.

    Wike sought an order of injunction restraining the defendants from applying for, issuing or entering his residence in Abuja, or anywhere else in Nigeria, by virtue of a search warrant or any court process, which shall compel or require his physical presence.

    He also wants the court to bar them from searching his apartment with a view to removing any item during his tenure as Rivers State Governor, since his immunity is preserved by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution.

    In an affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN),  said he knows Wike, who was sworn in as Rivers State Governor on May 29, 2015, for a four-year term.

    He said the governor held a news conference on April 29, in Port Harcourt, where he said the Inspector-General of Police intends to raid his (Wike’s) Abuja residence on Ortega Close, off Hassan Usman Katina Street, Asokoro Extension.

    “The intendment of the raid, according to the plaintiff, is to incriminate him in an unspecified crime through the recovery of huge sums of money, firearms and expensive wristwatches.

    “The plaintiff’s news conference received wide publicity in the print and electronic media. I was further informed by the plaintiff at his Hassan Usman Katsina home, about 8pm on May 1, and I do believe him, that he knows, on good authority, that the defendants had begun the process of either applying for, or obtaining, or have already obtained a search warrant to be executed at either his aforementioned residence or some other residence of his in Port Harcourt.

    “I know as a fact that a search warrant is a process of court. I also know that the plaintiff or his privy, is obligated to be present during the conduct of the search at his premises.

    “I further know, as a fact, that the owner of a building is obligated to give unhindered access to his premises to the defendants, while the defendants are executing a search warrant.

    “If not restrained by a court order, the defendants shall proceed to execute the said search warrant,” he said.

    The respondent said Wike has not committed any criminal offence, apart from being vested with constitutional immunity.

    “The actions of the defendant shall violate his constitutional immunity; the defendants are witch-hunting him to silence and tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

    “The defendants shall lose nothing if this application is granted. I make the depositions herein in good faith, believing the facts stated herein to be true and in accordance with the Oaths Act,” the affidavit added.

  • ‘Fuel supply sabotage’: NUPENG wing faults DSS allegation on Ubah

    The Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ (PTD) wing of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday faulted the Department of State Security Services (DSS) over allegation of collaboration with the Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, to disrupt distribution of petroleum products.

    It said no individual or institution can be allowed to use tanker drivers to cause any economic sabotage.

    The union, which made the clarifications in a statement by its national chairman, Otunba Salmon Oladiti, dismissed the allegation as ”baseless, unfounded  and totally untrue”.

    The DSS linked Ubah’s arrest to alleged plans to incite members of the PTD, a critical player in the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum Industry, to refuse/stop the lifting of products.

    But the tanker drivers, through their chairman, said there was no way its members could be used for economic sabotage.

    Oladiti said the union has no relationship with the firm’s chief, ‘’ beyond the precinct of promoting, projecting and protecting the security of jobs and welfare of our members”.

    The statement said: “We read from an online publication the arrest of Ifeanyi Ubah for stealing and diversion of petroleum products worth N11 billion and further allegation of inciting Petroleum Tanker Drivers to cause economic sabotage.

    ‘’The leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers wishes to categorically deny the allegation of Ifeanyi Ubah or any other individual, inciting the tanker drivers to cause any economic sabotage.  The allegation is baseless, unfounded and totally untrue.

    ‘’Our responsibility as a trade union is solely to promote, project and protect the job security and welfare of workers, most especially the petroleum tanker drivers in Nigeria.

    ‘’We have no further relationship with any capitalist/ employer beyond the precinct of promoting, projecting and protecting the security of jobs and welfare of our members.’’

    The union further restated its commitment to the war against corruption by the federal government and its determination to sustain what it called “a good brand of integrity and excellent service to the nation”.

    ‘’We unequivocally support the ongoing war against corruption by the current government and any capitalist/employer found culpable of stealing, diversion or embezzlement of government funds should be appropriately dealt with in accordance with the law.

    ‘’The PTDs’ branch of NUPENG has over the years built a good brand of integrity and excellent service to the nation and we will not allow anyone or institution, no matter how highly placed to bring this beautiful brand our forebears toiled to build into disrepute.’’

  • DSS arrests Ifeanyi Ubah over fuel theft

    DSS arrests Ifeanyi Ubah over fuel theft

    The Chairman of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Ifeanyi Ubah, has been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The DSS disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesman, Tony Opuiyo.

    Opuiyo said Ubah was arrested on Friday in connection with the theft of petroleum products kept by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in his Lagos tank farm.

    The products were valued at over N11 billion.

    The agency said Ubah’s action amounted to economic sabotage, with “capacity to negatively impact on national economy.”

    Opuiyo said the Capital Oil and Gas chairman also engaged in other activities inimical to national security and public order.

    He said, “In furtherance of his gimmicks to undermine the government and people of Nigeria, he has incited members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a critical player in the downstream sub-sector of the Petroleum Industry, to refuse/stop the lifting of products.

    “This is part of his plans to curry their sentiments and cause them to embark on strike and also stage protests in his favour with the ulterior motive of arm-twisting the NNPC to abandon the cause of recovering the stolen products. The implications of this on law and order are common knowledge. It is consequent upon this that the Service arrested and will prosecute him forthwith.

    ” The public is hereby reassured that the Service will collaborate with appropriate agencies to ensure that the mischievous activities of any person or group(s) to engage in illegal activities will not affect the effective distribution of products across the country. It will also support such agencies to bring to book individuals or companies involved in any criminal act that undermines the nation’s economy.”

    NAN

     

  • Why DSS, EFCC are after me, by Kuku

    Why DSS, EFCC are after me, by Kuku

    Former Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Kingsley Kuku, has said the Department of State Services (DSS) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are out to punish him for his perceived role in the 2015 elections.

    The former presidential adviser, in a statement yesterday, accused the agencies of deploying extra-legal means to deal with him rather than wait for the legal process to run its course.

    He debunked insinuations he absconded to the United States to evade arrest, saying he travelled in July 2015 for a pre-scheduled medical examination and had to undergo a surgery on his knee.

    “I was already in hospital when news got to me that I had been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly misappropriating funds during my tenure as chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    “In my condition, I could not honour the invitation, but my lawyer wrote to the commission on my behalf, formally informing it of my absence from the country and my promise to honour the invitation when I complete my medical procedure and fully recuperated.

    “The EFCC, however, responded with threats and harassment, which began with freezing of the bank account of the Keketobou Foundation, an educational and charity non-governmental organisation I set up in honour of my mother.

    “This was followed by the arrest and detention of some former workers of the Amnesty Office, after which two of them were arraigned for refusing to implicate me in their statements.

    “I was left with no other option than to approach the court to seek protection and enforcement of my fundamental human rights.

    “On April 5, 2016, Justice Okon Abang sitting at the Federal High Court, Lagos, restrained the EFCC, DSS, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Immigration, Customs, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), police and other security and investigative agencies, from arresting, detaining or prosecuting me, pending the determination of an appeal on an earlier ruling on February 17, 2016.

    “Justice Valentine Ashi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, in February 2016, gave a similar restraining order. These orders subsist as the appeal before the Appeal Court, Lagos Division has not been determined.

    “But in outright violation of these orders, I have become a victim of the ongoing unhealthy rivalry between the EFCC and the DSS, where I am being subjected to the worst form of media trial and have been serially libelled.

    “There were reports that the DSS accused the EFCC of shielding me from prosecution. But I stated earlier why I’m yet to return to the country and it’s not true the EFCC is shielding me from prosecution.

    “The DSS claimed that it was investigating me for acts bordering on economic sabotage and pipeline destruction, but I wonder where this came from because I have never been invited by the service. I’m a patriotic Nigerian, who, for over a decade, rendered selfless and committed service to Nigeria at different levels. I cannot turn around to destroy a house I co-built. Let posterity be the judge of my service.”

  • Attacks on oil pipelines: DSS probes ex-Amnesty Programme chief Kuku

    Attacks on oil pipelines: DSS probes ex-Amnesty Programme chief Kuku

    The Department of State Security Services (DSS) yesterday said it was probing a former Coordinator of Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta, Dr. Kingsley Kuku, over alleged link with attacks on oil pipelines.
    Quoting intelligence report, the service alleged that Kuku was one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA),
    DSS made the clarifications in a confidential note by one of its top officials, which was made available to the media.
    It said: “It is rather disturbing that Kingsley Kuku, a fugitive, who is believed to be funding some illegal raids like the one carried out on the residence of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, is planning to assume the behind-the-scene leadership of the unified South-South arms struggle to gain relevance in the present government, aimed at avoiding possible searchlight on the atrocities committed during his tenure as Special Adviser for the Amnesty Programme.
    “Kuku, who is currently on self-exile, is also one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers and the large scale sabotage against the oil pipelines across the Niger Delta (2015 – 2017).”
    The top source added: “I’m certain this is an issue that will not be swept under the carpet.”
    Apart from the DSS, the former Special Adviser on Amnesty Programme is also being investigated over alleged mismanagement of N2,864,584,979 for the training of ex-militants.
    The other allegations against Kuku are as follows:
    • Inclusion of many undeserving people on the beneficiary list of Amnesty Programme;
    •Circumstances surrounding how 2000 Amnesty Programme beneficiaries became stranded abroad;
    • Over-bloated training contracts without adding value to the Amnesty Programme;
    •Huge bills on all-expense international and local trips in private jets; and
    • Operation of an expensive office in the United Kingdom
    A source in EFCC said: “Kuku is also aware that since 2013, a group, Niger Delta Awareness Coalition & Ex Militants Leaders Forum had joined issues with him on the management of the Amnesty Programme.
    “In one of the issues raised before ex-President Jonathan, the group alleged mismanagement of billions of Naira earmarked for the development of the Niger Delta.
    “They also alleged that Niger Delta youths were shipped away to unaccredited training and educational institutions across most of the Third World.
    “Our job as an anti-graft agency is to look into some of these allegations and find out the veracity or otherwise.
    “By inviting Kuku, it does not mean he is guilty of the allegations against him. If there is nothing against Kuku, he will be given a clean bill of health. If, otherwise, he will face trial.”

  • DSS arrest kidnappers, vandals in Sokoto

    The Department for State Service (DSS) in Sokoto has arrested seven suspected kidnappers terrorising residents of Goronyo- Isah in Sabon Birni local government area of the state.

    The DSS also appealed to criminals to key into the state government’s amnesty programme by surrendering their arms ‎to the authorities.

    “There are incentives and other necessary support for them to be readmitted into the society,” the agency said.

    According to the DSS, the suspects ‎ specialised in kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling, using Dane guns and other dangerous weapons.

    “The syndicate is led by one Abdullahi Mohammed a.k.a Hanaswa of Zangon Arab in Sabon Birni local government,” it added.

    Other suspects arrested by the DSS are – Shabi Dan-Musa, Abdullahi Boka, Isah Aliyu, Sule, Tukur and Ibrahim Maye.

    The agency  also arrested  three suspected cable, solar panel‎ and water equipment vandals.

    They were caught with cables and copper wires worth N8 million.

    ‎Parading the suspects separately on Friday at the state command of the service, the state Director of DSS, Alhaji Tijjani Kafa,‎ said the arrests were made in joint operations with the military between April 15 and April 19 following the abduction of  one Nasiru Aliyu Maigoro.

    “The suspects with the support of Maigoro’s relation kidnapped the victim and demanded‎ for N10 million but finally arrived at an agreed sum of N1 million ransom which was paid to the kidnappers to share among themselves,” the DSS director said.