The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DSS

  • Nyanya blasts: DSS parades five suspects

    Nyanya blasts: DSS parades five suspects

    The Department of State Security (DSS) has paraded five suspects allegedly linked to the April 14 bomb blasts at Nyanya, on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory in which over 75 persons were killed and several others injured.

    The DSS has also placed a N25 million reward on two fleeing suspects – Rufai Abubakar Tsiga and Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche who were alleged to have masterminded the attack.

    At a joint security briefing, held at the headquarters of the DSS on Monday, the spokesperson of the DSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, said Tsiga, assisted by Ogwuche, drove the explosive laden car to the scene of the blasts a day to the incident.

    He was said to have left the car at the Nyanya bus station and went back to detonate the explosives in the early morning of April 14.

    The DSS said Tsiga used to run a decoy patent medicine kiosk at Utako area of the FCT from where he allegedly recruited other sect members who disguised as his apprentices.

    Ogwuche was described as a British born Nigerian from Benue State who was in November 2011, arrested at the Abuja airport on his arrival from the United Kingdom, in connection with terrorism.

    Ogar, however, said Ogwuche was released on bail to his retired Colonel father, Agene Ogwuche in October 2012 following intense pressure from the human rights community who alleged violation of his human rights.

    The DSS added that the fleeing Ogwuche deserted the Nigerian Army in 2006 after serving in the Intelligence Unit of the Army at the Arakan Barracks, Lagos.

    He reportedly absconded when he was posted to the Nigerian Defence Academy, Jaji, Kaduna, in 2006. Ogar gave his service number as SVC 95/104.

    He is said to be studying Arabic language at the International University of Africa, Sudan.

    The other five suspects paraded by the DSS are- Ahmad Rufai Abubakar, (43); Muhammadu Sani Ishaq, (30); Yau Saidu, (28); Adamu Yusuf, (43); and Anas Isah, (22).

    They all confessed to having played different roles in preparations leading to the bombing of the Abuja bus station.

  • Apo Killings: DSS faults NHRC’s report

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has faulted the report by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which indicted the security agency‎ in the killing of eight squatters at the Legislative Quarters in Apo district, Abuja, last year.

    It has given the commission a one month pre-action notice after which it intends to head for court and challenge the report.

    The DSS’s pre-action notice is contained in the letter to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, written pursuant to section 18(3) of the NHRC (Amendment) Act.

    In the letter written by its lawyer, Solo Akuma (SAN), the DSS said it was dissatisfied with the commission’s recommendations and award and had therefore decided to seek a judicial review of the report.

    The DSS said it intended to ask the court to quash the ‎recommendations and the award.

    It argued that NHRC was biased, lacked the jurisdiction to determine the subject matter, failed to observe rules of fair hearing and committed errors of law on the face of the record.

    The DSS said it intend to head for the Federal High Court, where it hopes to pray for among others, an order of certiorari to bring the commission’s report to the court for the purpose of its being quashed.

    Eight squatters were killed on September 20, 2013 while 11 others were injured when security operatives stormed an uncompleted building at Apo.

    The DSS had claimed after the incident that those killed were members of the Boko Haram sect, a claim some groups contested and petitioned the NHRC for investigation.

     

  • Police arraign 17 suspects for malicious damage

    Police arraign 17 suspects for malicious damage

    The police in Ogun State arraigned yesterday 17 suspects, who were allegedly part of the mob that attacked the home of a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police at Ijaye in Abeokuta on Monday. A mob threw stones at the windows of the retired police officer’s home and vandalised some of his belongings on suspicions that he was trading in human parts. The mob threatened to burn down the building if its suspicions were confirmed. But when men and officers of the police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSO), accompanied by the Balogun of Ijaiye, Alhaji Ganiyu Alimo, and representatives of the people, searched the three-storey building, nothing suspicious was found. The suspects were charged to Magistrate Court 1, Isabo in Abeokuta for malicious damage, conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of peace. The suspects were granted bail and the case adjourned to June 25. Police spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said the suspects attacked policemen, community leaders and other security agents on the scene after the house was searched. Commissioner for Police Ikemefuna Okoye condemned attacks on innocent persons over unconfirmed allegations and warned against jungle justice. He said suspicions should be reported to the police for investigation.

  • Mob searches ex-police officer’s home for human parts

    Mob searches ex-police officer’s home for human parts

    A three-storey building in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was vandalised yesterday by an angry mob on the suspicion that the owner trades in human parts.

    The house is situated at Agogo-Ogun Compound in Ijaiye. It is reportedly owned by a retired police officer.

    Residents, in their hundreds, gathered at the gate of the house and threw stones and other objects at the glass window panes.

    They were about to pull down the fence when men and officers of the Police, Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Vigilante Service of Ogun State (VSO) intervened.

    The residents claimed that there was an underground cell in the house where kidnap victims were being held before they were killed and their parts sold to ritualists.

    By noon, when the residents insisted that they would not leave the compound until it was searched, the security agents sent for the Balogun of Ijaiye and Aare of Egbaland, Alhaji Ganiyu Alimo.

    When he arrived, the security men broke into the building and searched it. They were accompanied by the Balogun and representatives of the residents.

    After searching for about an hour, nothing was found.

    Two female tenants were found in the compound.

    The residents, who had threatened to burn the building if their suspicions were confirmed, were told to go home.

    Addressing reporters after the search, the Balogun said: “I do not know what the mob was looking for. The people said there was an underground cell here but we searched everywhere and found no underground cell. This is an unfounded rumour and I do not know the person behind it. I do not know if the owner of the building has been notified of this incident because I do not know him very well.

    “He has never come to my house. He built on a family land. This is Agogo-Ogun compound. When he was building this house, I asked the people living here about him and they said he is one of their children.

    “Having gone inside and found no underground prison, I appeal to the youths not cause chaos because the rumour is unfounded. There is no need to break into somebody’s house, if they have suspicions about him. They should inform the Council of Chiefs and we will talk to him.”

    VSO spokesman Soji Ganzalo said: “We heard that there was an underground cell at the house and that they were trading in human parts. We mobilised security agents there and searched the house and nothing of such was found.

    “The mob vandalised the house and if we were not on ground, it would have been set on fire. It is a baseless accusation. Nothing of what they alleged happened here. We have been trying to get the phone number of the owner of the house to notify him of the incident. But with the presence of the Balogun here, who is the number one person in Ijaiye, I believe there would be no problem. He is a member of the community.”

    One of the ladies found in the compound said: “I was inside the house when I heard the crowd outside smashing the glass windows. I do not really know what happened outside. The other tenant moved in here about five days ago.”

  • Priest, 20 others held for alleged child theft in Akwa Ibom

    Priest, 20 others held for alleged child theft in Akwa Ibom

    Officials of the Department of State Security (DSS) in Akwa Ibom State paraded yesterday a Catholic priest and 20 others for their alleged involvement in child theft.

    The State Deputy Director, Fubara Duke, said Rev Okono Joseph of St Peter’s Parish of Owerri Catholic Diocese in Imo State, was arrested for buying two boys (three and four years) at N900,000.

    Duke, who spoke at the DSS headquarters in Uyo, said the self-styled man of God bought the children from an agent sponsored by Uche Joel Canice Onyekedru from Ogiri in Imo State.

    Other suspects are: Mercy Etim; Collins Edet; Caroline Nkwonna; Cecilla Ngene; Eleka Okoye; Nwaonu Okoro; Adaobi Onyeke; Elizabeth Onubogu, Umeh, Ebele Nwadika, Florence Onyodobi, Emenka Anaefuna, Nnamdi Onuchukwu, Ifeoma Gladys Nweze, Chiyneyen Roseline, Idam Vivian Ogbona and David Ogbuagu.

    The Assistant Director said in the last eight months, over 60 children had been sold.

    Duke said the leader of the syndicate, Onyekedru, could not remember the number of children he has sold.

    “He usually operates in conjunction with agents, who liaise with government officials in children homes and maternity hospitals.

    “The investigation took our men to Abia, Imo and Ebonyi states before they arrested some of the suspects. Over 20 children were rescued.

    “Though some of the suspects are still at large, efforts are being intensified to ensure that they are all arrested.”

    He advised parents to be wary of strangers.

  • DSS arrests Plateau-bound gunrunner with 15 rifles

    DSS arrests Plateau-bound gunrunner with 15 rifles

    Operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) have arrested a 32-year-old gunrunner, Mallam Bello Dakogol, in Bauchi with a 15 AK 47 rifles.

    The rifles were cleverly concealed in Dakogol’s Navy blue Toyota Solara car with registration Lagos 605 EKY.

    Dakogol hails from Kwalla village in Quan-Pang Local government area of Plateau state and specialises in arm trafficking.

    Investigations revealed that the suspect picked up the guns from his contact man in Gamboru Ngala local government area of Borno State.

    Parading the suspects before reporters in Bauchi, the DSS spokesman, Kabiru Abdulsanda, said the arrest was based on support from the Army and Police in the State.

    Abdulsanda disclosed that the suspects were able to supply 41 AK47 riffles between July 2013 and January 2014 to members of his criminal syndicate.

    The suspect confessed that he used to supply the arms to criminal groups in Jos.

    Dakogol further informed that he has successfully carried out five runs but was nabbed during his sixth attempt to transport the fire arms from Borno to Plateau State.

    He also disclosed that he got N100, 000 on each successful run besides having N30, 000.

    When asked how he was able to beat security checks, he replied:” I used to load the fire arms under the boot. So when I get to security check points, they only check the surface of the boot while some will pass me without conducting any check because of the beauty of the car.’’

     

  • Court threatens to set Boko Haram suspects free

    Court threatens to set Boko Haram suspects free

    •Gives AGF seven-day ultimatum

    A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday gave the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) seven days to file charges against six suspected Boko Haram members held by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole said he would set the suspects free should the AGF fail to file formal charges against them within the period.

    The suspects, Dr Nazeef Yunus (a lecturer with the Kogi State University), Umar Musa (aka Abubakar), Mustapha Yusuf (aka Habib), Ismaila Abduazeez, Ibrahim Isa Hayafu and Salami Abdullahi were arrested by the DSS last October on suspicion that they were members of the Boko Haram sect.

    Yunus was accused of, among others, providing intellectual support to the sect.

    They have all been held in the DSS’ custody since their arrest.

    The DSS on November 25 got an ex-parte order from the Federal High Court, empowering it to further detain the suspects for 45 days.

    The 45 days ended yesterday, following which the DSS applied for a further extension of the order for the remand of the suspects.

    The suspects’ lawyers, Hassan Liman (SAN) and James Ocholi (SAN), objected to the DSS’ application on the grounds that the agency had not provided cogent reasons why it was yet to arraign the suspects in court.

    They argued that the DSS’ claim that investigation was still on was not enough reason to keep the suspects in custody perpetually.

    The lawyers urged the court to grant them bail, pending when the state was ready to formally charge the suspects to court.

    Justice Kolawole held that despite that the suspects were being held in relation to alleged terrorism offences, they were to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

    He ordered the AGF to file formal charges against the suspects within seven days.

    The judge ordered that they should be further detained in the custody of the DSS for seven days.

    Justice Kolawole held that should the AGF fail to file formal charges against the suspects before then, he will not hesitate to set them free.

    He adjourned till January 23.

  • How we planned to attack Abuja, by 16-year old Boko Haram suspect

    How we planned to attack Abuja, by 16-year old Boko Haram suspect

    A suspected Boko Haram member, Mohammed Adamu (also known as Engineer), gave details yesterday of plans by members of the group to attack Abuja late last year.

    Adamu, 16, currently being held by the Department of State Security (DSS) was arrested with two others in Abuja last September. Information got from them led security operatives to invade an uncompleted building on September 20 in Gudu, Apo area, Abuja in which no fewer than eight squatters were shot dead.

    Adamu testified yesterday at the public hearing being conducted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the September 20 killings.

    The suspect, who spoke in Hausa, was assisted by an interpreter.

    He admitted holding nocturnal meetings with 12 others in the uncompleted building at Gudu, near Apo with the intention to launch attacks against government’s interests in their determination to defend Islam.

    Adamu, who hails from Katsina State, said he worked as a commercial tricycle (Keke NAPEP) rider. He said he met Suleiman (R Kelly ) who introduced him into the sect.

    “Within the period, Suleiman told me of a meeting they attended in the uncompleted building and asked me whether I was interested in joining them, but I told him to give me a day to think over it.

    “A day after, I told him I was interested. Later, Suleiman warned me not to tell anybody, threatening to deal with me if I did so. Because of that, I became afraid.

    “At the meeting, we said we are defending our religion through war, using guns and other weapons. We agreed and wanted to fight with the government; we were holding discussions on ways and manner to carry out the operation.

    “We usually converged by 8pm and left by 11pm. Honestly, no policeman ever accosted us” Adamu testified.

    “One day, Suleiman came back with a bag and I enquired what was inside, he opened it and showed me four AK 47 rifles and a pistol.

    “I was the youngest in the group and Suleiman is a middle-aged man. On the day of the incident, I led the security operatives to arrest Suleiman and other members around midnight.

    “On arrival at the uncompleted building, while the security people approached the building, some people inside the building started shooting at us and I was instructed to lie down by the SSS official.

    “Soldiers then returned fire. I saw Suleiman and the others digging out guns where they buried them in front of the building,” Adamu said.

    He also said Suleiman is also from Katsina state, but denied knowing his whereabouts at the moment.

    He denied being compelled to indict himself and other members of the sect. “Nobody has told me what to say, Allah is my witness. What I said, is to the best of my knowledge.”

    He also explained how he was arrested.

    “Suleiman gave me a SIM card with an instruction that I should not use the line anyhow. He told me to always put the SIM on around 8pm.

    “I was at a mosque when the SSS operatives came, with the help of a machine, when it was my turn, they found the SIM in my phone and that was how I was arrested and taken to the SSS office.”

    Another witness, Mallam Gambo Idris, one of the surviving occupants of the building confirmed knowing Adamu as a Keke NAPEP rider.

    He denied knowledge of any meeting. Adamu identified Gambo as one of the squatters in the building.

    The Nigeria Army told the commission last month that the attack on the uncompleted building was informed by information it got from the DSS of a planned attack on Abuja by Boko Haram.

    An official of the DSS, whose name was not mentioned (for security reasons) told the commission that Adamu was among the three Boko Haram suspects arrested on September 18, last year, at Garki 2 near a Mosque before they were brought to the DSS office for interview.

    Hearing continues today.

  • ‘Boko Haram buried weapons in Apo cemetery’

    ‘Boko Haram buried weapons in Apo cemetery’

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika, has said the Army has information that some arms and ammunition were buried in the Apo Cemetery, Abuja, by some Boko Haram members.

    He said the Army had been unable to locate where they were hidden because the person who hid the weapons was on the run.

    Gen Ihejirika said the weapons were to be used in an attack on Abuja by the sect earlier this year.

    The Army Chief spoke yesterday at a public hearing by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the September 20 killing of eight residents at an uncompleted building in Apo.

    Security personnel had invaded the house, said to be inhabited by about 100 people, on the claim that the inhabitants were Boko Haram members.

    Gen Ihejirika, who was represented by the Commander, Brigade of Guards, Maj Gen Emmanuel Atewe, justified the invasion of the house.

    He said the operation in Apo was informed by a report from the Department of State Security (DSS), alleging an attack by members of the Boko Haram.

    “Between September 18 and 19, two persons were arrested in Abuja and they made useful confessions that there was a cache of arms hidden at Apo Cemetery to be used in a planned attack,” he said.

    The Army chief said upon the confession of the suspects, his men went to the cemetery in search of the weapons.

    “It was in the night, the area was bushy and we could not navigate the cemetery and the suspects could not identify the actual spot where the weapons were buried.

    “It was at that point the suspects said their leader, one Suleiman, if arrested would show us the spot where the ammunition were hidden,” he said.

    Gen Atewe, who failed to name the “two suspects,” said they told security agents that Suleiman was living in the Apo uncompleted building. He said they (the suspects) also disclosed that their intention was to launch attacks within Abuja.

    “It was on that premise that the team moved to the uncompleted building to arrest Suleiman. But unfortunately, as troops were to cordon the building, the fire came, first it was a single shot before rapid followed. Under self defence, the troops returned fire,” he said.

    “The military operating in FCT are well trained in handling arms and have exercised restraint in the discharge of their duties. We have no reason to kill anybody dastardly or act under provocation.

    “The adversaries did firearm movement, they were firing as they escaped, a loaded magazine was found and from our records, it does not belong to the military,” he said.

    Gen Atewe stated that the Apo incident was an isolated case and an unfortunate one.

    He insisted that the security agents acted proactively to prevent collateral damage that may have resulted from an attack in Abuja.

    He said despite their efforts, Suleiman was still at large and the cache of arms at the Apo cemetery still undiscovered.

    “We have carried out 153 operations successfully, made arrests and did not shoot anybody.

    The NHRC yesterday granted an application by the DSS to have its officials testify in its headquarters to protect their identities.

    DSS’s lawyer Clifford Osagie and other officials of the service cited security reasons for the application to have the panel move its sitting venue from the NHRC’s Abuja office to DSS’ headquarters.

    The panel will resume sitting next month.

  • Two soldiers, five militants die in army/Boko Haram clash

    Two soldiers, five militants die in army/Boko Haram clash

    A fresh clash erupted yesterday in Kano between  a combined team of the Kano Joint Task Force (JTF) and Directorate of State Security (DSS) with the Islamist sect, Boko Haram.

    When the dust settled, two soldiers and five of the fundamentalists had died.

    The shootout occurred at Hotoro Dan’Marke Quarters and Brigade quarters at about 3am and lasted about three hours.

    Residents said the security agents had stormed two houses in the affected areas apparently following a tip off about the presence of terrorists there.

    A gun duel between the two sides soon ensued but the law enforcements agents gained the upper hand.

    They recovered two AK47 rifles, 458 rounds of 7.62 special and 6 AK47 rifle magazines from the hideouts.

    Security sources said the suspected terrorists were finalising plans to carry out simultaneous suicide attacks in Abuja and Kano when the soldiers struck.

    Spokesman for the JTF, Capt. Ikedichi Iweha, said  the JTF operation had “denied the terrorists freedom of action in Kano and from using the state as a spring board to launch attacks on other parts of the country.

    “This is due to the cooperation the JTF is receiving from members of the general public.”

    The JTF spokesman noted that the recent rise in activities of members of the terrorist sect might  not be unconnected with “the increase in pressure being mounted on them by troops in the North Eastern axis and their desperation to make loud statements of their presence.”

    He, however, expressed worries over “the ease with which terrorists secure accommodation easily in Panshekara, Ja’en, Mariri, Farawa, Hotoro, Sherada, Brigade and other outskirt areas in the state despite appeals by the JTF to property owners to desist from renting their properties to persons with questionable identities. The JTF in Kano would not allow the state to be used as haven for terrorists.”

    The   JTF, he vowed, would not only “continue to destroy any such properties found to accommodate terrorists but will also arrest the owners of such properties,  treating them as accomplices even if they do not reside in the said property.”