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Tag: sss

  • My 24-hour SSS ordeal, by Sambo Dasuki

    My 24-hour SSS ordeal, by Sambo Dasuki

    Passport, $40,000, nine cars, three rifles seized
    Former NSA alleges plot to implicate him

    The former National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki, yesterday raised the alarm over what he saw as plot by the State Security Service (SSS) to implicate him in alleged security breaches.

    He said Nigerians should know that the invasion of his house by the SSS was a sheer witch-hunt. He said it was sad that the operatives of the security agency broke into his ailing father’s house in Sokoto and broke his safe.

    Dasuki, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent on the phone yesterday, said he does not deserve such treatment because as the National Security Adviser he did not maltreat any Nigerian.

    He said he was subjected to a 12-hour ordeal from 6pm on Thursday till 6am on Friday.

    “The SSS operatives came in two trucks with a search warrant from a Magistrate Court. The warrant gave them the power to search for ‘illegal weapons and any incriminating item.’ You can imagine what that is supposed to mean.

    “I left office on Tuesday and they got the warrant on Wednesday and executed it by 6pm on Thursday.

    “From 6pm on Thursday, throughout the night till about 6am this morning (Friday), they were searching my house looking for incriminating items.

    “They restricted my movement. I cannot go out and no one can visit me. All those who attempted to see me were stopped from doing so.

    “In fact, my son was blocked from entering my residence. My two cooks, who used to come from their homes to prepare my meals, were also disallowed from leaving my house.

    “The only person allowed was the man who feeds my dogs. And he only related with the dogs.

    “By Friday morning, they packed away all the nine cars in my residence. I could not go out to perform the Eid-el-Fitr prayer because of the restriction.

    Even when I sought permission to go to Eid Praying Ground, they promised to provide a vehicle but they never did.”

    Responding to a question, Dasuki said: “This is just a witch-hunt; they are desperately looking for something to implicate me.

    “They went to my father’s house including breaking into the ceiling to look for incriminating documents. They broke a safe in my father’s house.

    “Also, my sister kept a 20-year old box in my father’s house, they also forced it open. What has my father got to do with this?

    “And the old man is in hospital in London. He was shocked to hear that they broke into his house. The good thing is that they did not find anything.

  • SSS lifts siege on Dasuki’s house

    SSS lifts siege on Dasuki’s house

    •Blockade prevents ex-NSA from attending Eid

    The security siege upon the Asokoro,Abuja residence of the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA),Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is over following the withdrawal of the personnel of the State Security Service (SSS) from the premises last night.

    The siege began on Thursday ,72 hours after Dasuki was removed from office along with the service chief.

    While it lasted,the former NSA could not attend yesterday’s Eid-el-Fitr prayer marking the end of the Ramadan fasting.

    He was restricted to the house with two cooks and dogs with an order banning them from either going out or receiving visitors

    The SSS operatives also ransacked the house at No. 13, John Kadiya Street , seizing nine cars.

    A similar security raid was carried out at the Sokoto home of the ex-NSA’s father, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki (the deposed Sultan of Sokoto).

    A source close to Dasuki said: “We cannot say what is really happening because the former NSA was not arrested. But a search was conducted in his house without the operatives making reference to any document they are looking for.

    “The SSS operatives however went away with his car to restrict his movement. Therefore, he could not attend the Eid-el-Fitr prayer to mark the end of Ramadan.

    “No one can say what exactly the situation is because the operatives kept on making frantic calls and receiving intelligence messages.”

    In spite of the upturning of his residence, Dasuki remained unruffled as he worked on his phone.

    It was gathered that he was moving about freely in his house

    Another source added: “The only thing giving concern to the former NSA was the invasion of his father’s house in Sokoto by some SSS operatives.

    “He said his father is sick in London and he could not explain how the deposed Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Ibrahim Dasuki was connected with the ongoing investigation of his activities by the SSS.”

    There were suggestions that the raid was to search for documents relating to the $ 15m cash for arms seized from agents of the Jonathan Administration by South Africa last year.

    The NSA Office was also said to have hired South African mercenaries to assist in the fight against Boko Haram.

    It was learnt yesterday that some of the South African mercenaries had started withdrawing their services from Gwoza and Sambisa Forest in the Northeast.

    A reliable source said mercenaries attached to the infantry unit had returned quietly to their country.

    But those es assisting the Air Force to carry out bombardments of the camps and cells of Boko Haram were still around as at press time.

    “The South African mercenaries made it possible for the nation’s military to reclaim Gwoza and make substantial inroads into Sambisa Forest,” the source said.

    “Those fighting on the ground among them have decided to leave because the government which brought them is no longer in power. They were unsure if the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would retain them .

    “But the jet fighters among the South African mercenaries are still working. I think their contract has not expired.”

  • Buhari appoints new DG of SSS

    Buhari appoints new DG of SSS

    President Muhamadu Buhari has sacked Ita Ekpenyong as the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) replacing him with Mr. Lawal Musa Daura.

    The appointment was conveyed Thursday in a letter by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Barrister Danladi Kifasi.

    Daura was born in Daura in Katsina State on the 5th of August, 1953.  He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1977 – 1980.

    He started his carrier in the State Security Service in 1982 and rose to the rank of Director.

    He was at one time the Deputy Director Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre at the Presidential Villa Abuja between 2003 and 2007.

    He also served as the State Director of Security Service at various times in Kano, Sokoto, Edo, Lagos, Osun and Imo States.

    He attended various professional courses both home and abroad including the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) Kuru.

    The appointment is with immediate effect.

  • ‘Study new sss curriculum’

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof Godswill Obioma, has called on teachers to aquaint themselves to use the new Senior Secondary School (SSS) curriculum.

    Obioma said the curriculum has been in existence for the past three years.  He added that NERDC visited Abia State to sensitize teachers about it so they can impart same on their pupils.

    Speaking at a sensitisation and advocacy workshop on the new curriculum in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, Obioma said if the curriculum is duly followed, it would end graduates’ search for white collar jobs.

    Obioma noted that young graduates are finding it difficult to fit into the society simply because they were not properly prepared to face the future.

    “But with the new curriculum, graduates will no longer find life difficult, as they will find something to fall back on after graduation,” he said.

    He said NERDC sensitization workshop would expose the senior secondary school teachers and other stakeholders to the structure and mode of implementation of the new curriculum.

    Obioma, who was represented by Nimrock David, said the curriculum is designed to ensure the actualisation of government’s transformation agenda for national development, “especially in the area of human capital development.”

    Obioma said: “The new Senior Secondary curriculum systematically connects to the contents of the junior secondary education curriculum and diversifies to cater for the differences in talents, opportunities and future roles of individuals. It is developed to provide trained manpower in mathematics/science, technology, humanities and business, technical knowledge and vocational skills necessary for industrial and economic development.”

    He explained that the special features of the new curriculum structure amongst others, are: “the inclusion of trade/entrepreneurship and civic education as a compulsory subjects, adding.

    “They also include the 34 trades developed by NERDC and have been introduced in all the 36 states of the federation; and the first set of graduates were produced this year.”

    In her welcome address, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Monica Philips, said the seminar came at a time when education, the mainstay of social, economical and technological advancement of any country requires continuous re-engineering.

    Mrs Phillips, who was represented by the Head, Department of Curriculum Development, Dr Ngozi Nwagbara, said there was need to create awareness among the end users – teachers, pupils, parents and school administrators – for effective implementation.

    Philips explained that the new curriculum would help in rekindling the dwindling interest of pupils in education and correct the trend of producing job seekers instead of employers of labour.

     

  • SSS release Maigari

    SSS release Maigari

    Immediate past President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari has been released after being arrested by operatives of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Maigari arrived Abuja from Zurich, where he had gone for a FIFA Players’ status committee meeting, and was immediately picked up by the DSS, even though no reasons were given.

    It is however believed that it may not be unconnected to the recent crises at the NFF, but SL10.ng understands that he has been released from the DSS custody. Efforts to get across to him have so far proved abortive.

    It is also believed that General Secretary Musa Amadu was also invited by the DSS ,but it still remains unclear why he has been invited, but it is believed that it is also connected to the recent NFF crises and the forthcoming elections slated for September 30.

  • SSS quizzes Maigari, two others

    SSS quizzes Maigari, two others

    … FA chairmen rally for embattled NFF chief

    The State Security Service on Tuesday quizzed the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari and two other principal officials of the federation.

    The other affected officials are – the NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, and the Chairman of the federation’s technical committee, Chris Green.

    Maigari is expected to preside over the NFF general assembly slated for Tuesday, africanFootball.com reports.

    Meanwhile, no less than 35 states Football Association chairmen defied threats by security operatives and marched to the SSS office in solidarity with Maigari.

    “The FA chairmen refused to be cowed despite threat by heavily armed policemen that they will shoot them down if they leave the premises of the Chida hotel, Abuja,” an eyewitness told africanFootball.com.

    “They left for the SSS office and had made it clear that Maigari will preside over Tuesday’s congress despite this open intimidation.”

    World football governing body, FIFA, has already stated Maigari will lead the NFF congress.

    This latest development comes few hours after the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim had resolved that a non-elective congress takes place in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The congress is expected to design a road map for elections into the NFF executive committee.

     

  • Ex-militants protest against Kuku in Benin

    Ex-militants protest against Kuku in Benin

    Former militants in Edo and Delta states, who were not included in the third phase of the amnesty by the Federal Government staged a protest in Benin, Edo State capital.

    They have sent a petition to the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Committee, Mr. Kingsley Kuku.

    In the letter, copied to President Jonathan, National Assembly, the Police and the State Security Service (SSS),  the ex-militants, said they were from nine camps scattered in the two states.

    They alleged that people close to political appointees, who were not registered in the programme, were benefiting to the detriment of “real militants”.

    The petition, through their lawyer, Mr. Ugha Kurumah, said the Beni-Obiri Camp, headed by Ojuemi Prediseghbofa, keyed into the third phase of the amnesty with 1,300 persons and surrendered over 109 automatic weapons and ammunition.

    It said seven slots were allocated to them in the monthly stipend, while that of the Pina-Ofini Camp, headed by Saturday Ajemiri, entered the programme with 1,002 persons.

    The camp was said to have surrendered 49 arms, but was given five slots.

    The petition said 800 persons from Oweikontei Camp, headed by Emmanuel Aboh, subscribed to the amnesty and surrendered 49 arms and ammunition, but got five slots.

    It also said the Toruiyesinghan Camp, headed by Ayefagha Yeriyemi, surrendered 351 persons and handed over 55 arms and ammunition, but also got five slots.

    The Ukurisi Camp, the petition said, headed by Jacob Ikpi, keyed into the programme with 277 persons, surrendered 40 arms and  ammunition, and received four slots.

     

  • Controversy trails SSS invasion of Lagos company

    Controversy trails SSS invasion of Lagos company

    State Security Service (SSS) operatives yesterday invaded the premises of a Lagos-based research and marketing company, TNS RMS, in Ojodu and whisked away some of its staff.

    The SSS men stormed the company’s premises about 11a.m and left about 2.pm.They were said to have ransacked its office and carted away materials from past research activities carried by the company.

    It was not clear at press time the reason for the invasion as initial online media reports linked the invasion of the company to an opinion poll currently being conducted by the company on the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State.

    An impeccable source who spoke in confidence, however, said that the invasion of the  company by SSS operatives may not be unconnected with a recent assignment carried out by the firm in Enugu State.

    “Some officials of the company had allegedly taken photographs of a military facility in Enugu during field research and were trailed by security operatives to the company’s head office in Ojodu, a Lagos suburb.”

    TNS RMS is a research company that engages in business, marketing and political research and surveys. The company has conducted election polls in Edo, Ekiti and is currently handling the pre-election poll for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.

    When our correspondents visited the company about 3pm yesterday, many of its employees were seen going about their normal duties while a patrol van was parked at the main gate of the company.

    Attempts to speak with some members of the staff of the company proved abortive as many of them declined comments.

  • Ezekwesili was checked like other Nigerians – SSS

    Ezekwesili was checked like other Nigerians – SSS

    The spokesperson of the State Security Service, Ms Maryln Ogar, has denied reports that former Education Minister and the Coordinator of the “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign, Oby Ezekwesili, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday morning.

    Ogar said Ezekwesili went through the normal screening at the airport like other Nigerians.

    Speaking at the daily briefing at the National Information Centre, Ogar urged people to desist from trivializing security issue.

    She said the former minister who was on her way to London, at the time of the briefing, had to be subjected to security check like any other person boarding the plane.

    “I wonder where Oby Ezekwesili is right now, because we don’t have such person in any of our detention facilities.

    “Somebody has put same question during the Channel rise daily this morning (Monday) and they were clearly told that she is already on her way to the United Kingdom.

    “I wouldn’t know how people are advocating for her, you know that statutorily the SSS clears all passengers that travel outside this country or coming in to this country.

    “Let people stop to aggregate themselves unnecessary importance, when we have serious security challenges in our hands, security issues must not be shortchanged for any reason,” Ogar insisted.

     

  • Tight security at Lagos airport

    Tight security at Lagos airport

    There was a massive traffic jam yesterday on the Lagos airport road – no thank to a planned security breach tip-off.

    Security was strengthened around the Murtala Muhammed Airport – Nigeria’s busiest and biggest – where tougher screening measures have been taken, particularly at the cargo section.

    Nigeria Customs Service, the police, State Security Services (SSS) and members of the Association of  Nigerian Licensed  Customs Agents checked outgoing and incoming cargoes.

    Security agencies checked vehicles on the roads leading into and out of the airport.

    Vehicular and human movements outgoing and ingoing the toll gate, cargo terminal and international terminal were affected. The traffic gridlock was on for over six hours.

    Many airport workers reported late on account of the traffic gridlock on the road, many passengers reportedly missed their flights.

    From the Ikeja axis of the metropolis to the local and international terminals, vehicles drove bumper-to-bumper.

    Sources attributed the traffic to routine security checks around the tollgate and the Hajj Camp section of the airport.

    Many motorists expressed frustration over the traffic gridlock and its attendant man hours loss.

    A source at the airport said about the traffic: “The traffic snarl around the Lagos Airport road could be attributed to reaction to security and intelligence information we received that some people wrote, trying to carry out unauthorised activities that could threaten security.

    “Arising from that, we carried out checks on cars and persons trying to gain access into the airport , ensuring that only persons and vehicles that had genuine reason to be around the airport were allowed .

    “Nobody has so far been arrested. We ensured that we carried out the checks on vehicles around the cargo terminal and other areas of the airport.”

    On Monday, security personnel attached to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) ordered all passengers to switch on their mobile devices, including mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets, before undergoing screening at the airport.

    The motive for switching on the mobile electronic gadgets is to determine their genuineness as part of new security measures ordered for all airports from where flights to America originate.