The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Tony Opuiyo

  • DSS nabs Boko Haram ‘spiritual’ leader

    DSS nabs Boko Haram ‘spiritual’ leader

    The Department of State Services on Monday disclosed that it arrested one Mudahsiru Jibrin, who was described as spiritual leader to a newly uncovered Boko Haram cell in Kano.

    The DSS claimed that preliminary investigation so far conducted revealed that the suspect was also the mastermind of the shooting of some students at Government Secondary School, Mamudo village near Potiskum, Yobe State, in 2013.

    According to spokesman for the agency, Mr. Tony Opuiyo, who stated this in a statement in Abuja, said the agency has also made other arrests. Opuiyo noted that following threat messages against some members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja and Lagos, the Service responded and subsequently apprehended one Aikhoje Moses, on August 19, at Azagha by-pass off the Benin–Asaba Expressway in Edo State.

    Before his arrest, Moses was alleged to have threatened the diplomatic community in Nigeria, particularly the Consular-Generals of Switzerland and Denmark and their Embassies, warning them to leave the country.

  • DSS uncovers Boko Haram spy ring at Abuja airport

    The Department of State Services said it has uncovered a spy cell run by the Boko Haram sect at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.

    The spy cell, according to the DSS, is apparently aimed at selecting targets for attack.

    In a statement late on Friday, the agency said it discovered the ring on Monday and was working with aviation authorities to pre-empt any attack.

    The DSS said it had arrested a 14-year-old boy who said he had been instructed to spy on the airport’s security procedures, including passenger screening and boarding processes, and report what he had learnt.

    It said the man who directed the boy had not been located.

    “The service, in liaison with the aviation security of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, disrupted a spying network mounted by the Boko Haram terrorists,” Reuters quoted DSS spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, as saying in the statement.

    “The service is working closely with major aviation stakeholders, especially the Aviation Security Department, to forestall any possible attack and to ensure adequate security at the airports.”

  • Dasuki charged with illegal arms possession

    Dasuki charged with illegal arms possession

    •‘Ex-NSA held firearms without licence’

    The immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, was on Monday charged to court by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    A statement yesterday by the Acting spokesman of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, said Dasuki was charged to court based on evidence relating to possession of firearms without licence.

    According to the statement, the offence is punishable under Section 27(i) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28LFN 2004.

    “This is in line with democratic practice and our avowed commitment to the rule of law, in which nobody is deemed to be above the law, no matter how highly placed in the society.

    “Accordingly, the general public will be duly informed as the matter progresses”, the statement added.

    The DSS on July 16, carried out a search on property belonging to Dasuki in Abuja and Sokoto.

    The search followed what the DSS described as credible intelligence linking the ex-NSA to acts capable of undermining national security.

    “The search led to the recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition among other things and for which further investigation was conducted”, the DSS said.