DSS arrests Boko Haram Commander linked with suicide attacks

Nigeria’s secret police on Sunday, disclosed that it had arrested notable Boko Haram suspects, including a key commander, linked with several suicide attacks across the country, reports AFP.

Abubakar Shekau

The Department of State Services (DSS) said in a statement said that Usman Shuiabu known as Money and other frontline members of the hardline Islamist group were picked up in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe states between July and August.

“Of particular note was the arrest on 8th July, 2015 in Gombe state of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos.

“Shuaibu admitted being the leader of the team of nine sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the suicide attacks,” it said.

It said the arrest of Shuaibu and other core members of his cell had stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect.

The DSS said its operatives had also frustrated plans by the insurgents to attack the financial capital of Lagos.

“The sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos state points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the state and in fact, other parts of the country,” it said.

“The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area,” it added.

The DSS said it would continue to work with other stakeholders in the fight against Boko Haram extremists.

The agency said on Friday it had arrested a 14-year-old boy spying for Boko Haram at the Abuja airport.

The Islamists have carried out deadly ambushes across Nigeria’s borders and in recent weeks suicide bombers, many of them women, have staged several attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad.

Boko Haram, which is seeking to carve out a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, has killed some 15,000 people since 2009.

A regional 8,700-strong force aimed at ending the insurgency is due to deploy within days.

 

DSS arrests Boko Haram Commander linked with suicide attacks

Nothing"s wrong if SSS boss is our member - APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has insisted that the Director General of the State Security Services, SSS, Lawal Daura, is not a card-carrying member of the party, saying nothing short of producing Mr. Daura’s membership card or evidence of his membership registration could prove that he is indeed a member of the APC as alleged by the PDP.

Acting Director General, Department of State Service, Mr. Lawal Musa Daura

”While it amounts to rabble-rousing and crass politicking for the PDP to have wrongly accused Mr. Daura of being a member of the APC without a scintilla of credible evidence, the PDP has weakened its argument by using the pictures in which Mr. Daura appeared with the President and the fact that he served in an election committee as evidence of his membership of the APC,” the party said in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.

”Possession of an APC membership card by Mr. Daura or evidence of registration as a party member at his ward, local government or state will be the only conclusive evidence of his membership of the party,” it said. ”Until such an evidence is produced, we are sorry we have to tell the PDP to shut up!”

Mr. Daura, who was appointed SSS boss early July, served on the security committee of the APC presidential campaign.

The PDP accuses him of serving the interest of APC at the SSS.

But the APC said the PDP is jittery because it is keenly aware of the kind of impunity perpetrated under the federal government it sired from 1999

to 2015.

The party also drew comparisons with similar roles played in the past for PDP by government officials.

”PDP has forgotten the saying that he who must come to equity must

come with clean hands. When Mr. Mike Okiro chaired the security committee of the PDP campaign in 2011, did that prevent him from being appointed the Chair of the Police Service Commission, which is responsible for issues concerning the welfare, promotion and discipline of all police personnel, in 2013?

”When the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, was appointed into the Jonathan election committee in 2015, did he resign his appointment as head of the agency or did he automatically become a card-carrying member of the PDP?

”Did retired Col. Kayode Are not become the DG of the DSS despite being a close confidante of Gen. Obasanjo during his electioneering campaign to become President? Was this not under a PDP Federal Government?

”In any case, even in the world’s most advance democracy, United States, was a card-carrying Democrat, Mr. Leon Panetta, not named as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) by President Barack Obama in 2009? Here in Nigeria, the APC-led FG has not even gone that far, and the PDP is blabbing.

”It is an irony that the APC-led Federal Government, which has continued to conduct the affairs of state with a strict adherence to the law, is the one being accused by the immoral, irresponsible and grossly hypocritical PDP. A party that should cover its face in shame for wasting all of 16 years in the life of our country, a party whose

members should show penance by hunkering down has continued to assault the sensibilities of a decent nation. What a shame,” APC said.

Nothing"s wrong if SSS boss is our member - APC

Sambo Dasuki"s father reacts to SSS treatment on son

Ibrahim Dasuki (pictured, left), former Sultan of Sokoto, has expressed disgust over the raid of his residence by the State Security Service (SSS) in connection with allegations against Sambo, his son who was the former national security adviser (NSA).

Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki

Operatives of the secret police stormed the homes of the Dasukis in Sokoto and Abuja last week, a development that the younger Dasuki had earlier condemned.

Narrating his ordeal in an interview last week, the former security adviser said his father was receiving medical attention in the United Kingdom when the incident happened.

Dasuki added that he was being witch-hunted, saying he did not deserve such from the All Progressives Congress (APC) based his fairness to all concerned parties, including the then opposition party, in the lead-up to the 2015 general election.

“I was fair to all as NSA. Even when I had security cause to act on some issues, inflammatory comments and actions against the government of the day by those in the opposition, I exercised restraint… I gave my best for this transition, which led to the victory of the opposition over the ruling party,” he had said.

“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.”

However, speaking to BBC Hausa service on Monday, his father said the security agency should have sought his permission before entering his house.

“The security forces should not have entered my house without seeking authority, because there is a difference between me and my son,” he said.

The residences occupied by the SSS are: 13, John Khadya street, 46, Nelson Mandela street, Asokoro, Abuja and 3, Sabon Birni road, Gwiwa area, Sokoto.

The older Dasuki was deposed by the regime of Sani Abacha in 1996.

Sambo Dasuki"s father reacts to SSS treatment on son

Detained Jonathan"s CSO is diabetic, hypertensive but denied his drugs, lawyer cries out

Gordon Obua, the detained ex-CSO to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has been denied his medications despite being diabetic and hypertensive, his lawyer has alleged.

Former CSO, Gordon Obua

Obua was detained by the State Security Service (SSS) on Thursday in its ongoing investigation of the spending of security funds as well as oil theft under Jonathan.

But Onochie Onwuegbuna, the lead partner at Zeran Legal, has issued a press statement on behalf of Obua to complain about the conditions under which he is being detained.

He also asked for Obua’s unconditional release. Onwuegbuna, who said he was the lawyer to the former CSO, alleged that his client is being witch-hunted as part of a plan against “marked” individuals who served and held offices in the Jonathan administration of “in other to implicate them by all means for phantom crimes or offences”. Although he said Obua has been denied food and water by the SSS.

THE FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT

We have been briefed and our services retained by the family of Mr. Gordon Obua, the Chief Security Officer to former President Goodluck Jonathan (Our Client) in respect of his present harassment and detention by the State Security Services (SSS).

The facts as narrated to us by our Client’s family are as follows: Our Client, a serving officer of the State Security Services was ordered to report to the Headquarters to meet with the Acting Director General (A.D.G).

He consequently reported at the Headquarters at about 9am on the 8th of July 20 15 and he was kept waiting till late in the night by the Acting D.G who finally asked him to report again the next day.

The exact situation played out the next day and the day after resulting on our Client reporting to the office of the A.D.G everyday from the 8th of July 2015 till the 16th of July 2015.

On the 3rd day of reporting, our Client was orally informed by the A.D.G that there was a petition against him without telling him the contents of the alleged Petition or the identity or the Petitioner (s).

Our Client requested to be availed a copy of the Petition or its contents to enable him respond accordingly however, his request was not granted, and he was rather told not to worry that such petitions are normal considering the office he previously occupied.

On the 16th of July 2015, he reported at the office of the A.D.G by 5pm as directed, and as usual he was kept waiting till about 1am on Friday 17th July 2015 when the A.D.G informed him that he will be detained and he has been in detention since then without being informed what offence (if any) he is alleged to have committed or the reason for his detention.

Our Client is hypertensive and diabetic to the knowledge of his employers the SSS. and as a result he has been on daily medications to manage these very severe ailments and since his detention, he has completely been denied access to these medications.

Our Client has also been denied access to  members  of  his  family, his  doctor and his lawyers and even more worrisome is the information obtained by his family that he has not eaten or drank water ever since he was detained.

The actions of the SSS and our Client’s subsequent detention constitute undue harassment and gross violation of his fundamental rights to respect for the dignity of his person and personal liberty as guaranteed by Sections 31 and 35 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In view of the much publicised siege by the SSS on the residences of the Former National Security Adviser coincidentally in the evening of the 16th of July 2015, our Client’s family believe and are justifiably apprehensive that he is being harassed and detained in furtherance of what seems to be a well calculated witch hunt, unlawful harassment gross violation of his fundamental human rights of certain “marked” individuals who served and held offices in the administration of Former President Goodluck Jonathan in other to implicate them by all means for phantom crimes or offences.

This view is further strengthened by the fact that our Client was made to report everyday since the 6th of July 2015, only to be detained in the early hours of Friday 17th of July 2015 which was public holiday with the knowledge that Monday the 20th of July 2015 is also a public holiday.

The aim was clearly to ensure he is kept in detention for the period and to ensure that the earliest date available to his lawyers to approach the Courts to enforce his fundamental right is Tuesday the 21st of July 2015. Our Client is presently languishing in the custody of the SSS without access to his medication, food, water and drugs or to any member of his family, doctors or his lawyers and in the circumstance, we hereby call on the SSS to immediately release him as he has not been informed the facts and grounds of his detention in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The general public is also invited to note that the SSS should be held responsible if anything untoward happens to our Client in their custody or subsequently as a consequence of his unlawful detention.

Detained Jonathan"s CSO is diabetic, hypertensive but denied his drugs, lawyer cries out

We found something incriminating evidence in Sambo"s House - SSS reveals

The State Security Service (SSS) has broken its silence on its search of the residences of Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser, saying that it found “incriminating” evidence during its operation. The secret police, also known as Department of State Service (DSS), said there was suspicion that Dasuki was involved in “treasonable felony”.

Former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki

In a statement signed by Tony Opiuyo and released on behalf of the agency on Saturday night, SSS said it recovered seven high caliber rifles (high assault weapons), several magazines and military related gears.

The team also recovered 12 new vehicles, out of which five were bullet-proof, it said, adding that these vehicles “which are all exotic vehicles were retrieved from Sambo’s residence having failed to produce evidence of ownership”.

SSS asked: “What could he be doing with five bullet proof cars as a retired NSA? These cars which from all available evidence were purchased with tax payers money, were being kept for possible sinister enterprise.”

The agency also said the lethal arms and the vehicles recovered were not reflected in Sambo’s handover notes, asking:

“What could a former NSA be doing with destructive weapons and bullet proof cars which put together could disrupt the peace of any city in Nigeria for a while?”

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT On 16th July, 2015, about 1650 hours, based on credible intelligence linking the immediate past NSA, Mohammed Sambo DASUKI (Col Rtd) with alleged plans to commit treasonable felony against the Nigerian State, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) conducted a search on the properties belonging to the former NSA, Mohammed Sambo DASUKI (Col Rtd). The properties are on Nos. 13, John Khadya Street, Nos. 46, Nelson Mandela Street, both at Asokoro, Abuja, and Nos. 3 Sabon Birni Road, Gwiwa Area, Sokoto, Sokoto State.

The search operations was planned to be simultaneously conducted, but DASUKI, refused the operatives entry into his main residence located at No. 13 John Khadya Street, Asokoro, despite being presented with a genuine and duly signed search warrant. Consequently, what was to last not more than two (2) hours, lasted more than ten (10) hours, up till the early hours of 17th July, 2015. Indeed if not for the sense of maturity and professionalism of the officers and men assigned this task and the very good understanding and timely intervention of the new Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Y. BURATAI (Maj Gen), there would have been a clash between the Army operatives guarding the house and Service operatives, as SAMBO directed the soldiers on duty not to allow any movement into his house, despite the subsisting court order. SAMBO thereafter raised a false alarm to the military authorities to come to his aid as he failed to correctly tell the military that his property was about to be legitimately searched.

Gentlemen, please recall that SAMBO retired from the Army as a Colonel, and therefore not entitled to have military guards, if not for the fact he was NSA. Even as NSA, such guards should have been withdrawn after his removal as NSA since he would not have been entitled. The search was thoroughly conducted, and several items recovered, among which were some incriminating items. These include seven (7) high caliber rifles, (high assault weapons), several magazines and military related gears.

The team also recovered twelve (12) new vehicles, out of which five (5) were bullet proofs. These vehicles which are all exotic vehicles were retrieved from SAMBO’s residence having failed to produce evidence of ownership. For instance, what could he be doing with five (5) bullet proof cars as a retired NSA?. These cars which from all available evidence were purchased with tax payers money, were being kept for possible sinister enterprise.

The Service would want to state categorically that this search operation is not a witch hunt. The Service decided to move at this time in line with current Management resolve to be proactive and pre-empt individuals with penchant for impunity and lawlessness from putting back the nation to the dark days. The Service is also aware that the lethal arms and the vehicles recovered were not reflected in SAMBO’s handover notes or what could a former NSA be doing with destructive weapons and bullet proof cars which put together could disrupt the peace of any city in Nigeria for a while.

On the search of his three (3) properties, including the Sokoto residence, the Service is aware that in his capacity and given his antecedents, he might decide to use any of his residences for such diabolical plans, rather than his main residence.

Gentlemen of the press, the Service Management would want to assure members of the public that it would not trample on the freedom of individuals or groups as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and emphasized by the current administration’s position on transparency, and probity underlined by justice and equity for all Nigerians. This is the driving force for all DSS operations. However, the Service would not hesitate to go after any person or group of persons, no matter how highly placed once such individual(s) breach or attempt to breach the laws of the Federation. The days for impunity and indecisiveness in the face of unpatriotic acts by individuals operating against the State are over. The Service hereby appeal to all Nigerians to be law abiding and partner with it in ensuring a peaceful and secured nation. In the same vein, those that are bent on breaking the rules governing our peaceful co-existence due to either the huge ill gotten wealth they have acquired or imaginary hold they think they have on our nation’s survival, are being warned to rethink. The DSS will use all constitutional means as defined by its mandate to deal decisively with such unpatriotic individuals.

The Management want to seize this opportunity to appreciate Nigerians for the tremendous acts of goodwill that is being extended to the new dispensation. The Management also wish to assure Nigerians that the gesture and confidence being expressed will be reciprocated with more dedication and service to our dear country Nigeria.

 

We found something incriminating evidence in Sambo"s House - SSS reveals

Card readers’ supplier’s consultant sues SSS over detention

One of those detained by the State Security Service (SSS) over the Card Reader Machines (CRMs) used for last Saturday’s elections has sued the organisation, alleging illegal detention.

Muhammad Sani Musa, a consultant to Act Technologies Limited, one of the firms engaged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the supply of the CRMs said he was, on March 24 ,invited, through the telephone to the SSS’ headquarters in Abuja, by the Director General of the SSS and had since been held without any charge.

He stated in a fundamental rights enforcement application he filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he was being detained with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Act Technology (whose name he did not mention) by the SSS since they honoured the security agency’s invitation on March 24 at 1pm.

Musa is, in the application marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/292/2015 filed on March 27 by his lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN), wants the court to order his release and declare his arrest, detention and continued intimidation by the respondent (the SSS) in relation to the card reader issue as illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental rights.

Musa, who is praying the court to award N100million as general and exemplary damages against the SSS for its unlawful acts, also seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondent and its agents from engaging in further harassing, intimidating, arresting and detaining him in relation to the card reader used by the INEC.

He hinged his prayers on three grounds, one of which included that SSS agents unlawful interference with his liberty in connection with the procurement of the card readers constituted an infringement of his  fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution.

The applicant’s wife, Mrs Sa’adatu Musa, stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the respondent’s officials have refused her access to her husband since he honoured the SSS’ DG’s invitation and had been detained since March 24.

She said her husband is not a staff of Act Technologies, but a consultant who is now being held with the company’s CEO.

Mrs Musa, who prayed the court to order the immediate release of her husband, including granting all the prayers in the application, said if not restrained by the court, the SSS will continue to detain her husband without arraigning him before any court, if the respondent has anything against him.

It was learnt yesterday that the case has been assigned to Justice Adeniyi Ademola, but no hearing date has been communicated to parties.

Card readers’ supplier’s consultant sues SSS over detention

Jonathan planning to use SSS to harass our financial sponsors - APC

The All Progressives Congress, to harass and intimidate supposed sponsors of the party, as part of ongoing efforts to cripple its activities in the run up to the March 28thpolls.

Amaechi, APC governors

In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party however said the agency can only target phantom financiers, since the APC is, in reality, being FINANCED by Nigerians, not some money bags.

”We made it clear early on that our party, which has now become a people-driven movement, is being bankrolled by ordinary Nigerians, who have contributed generously to the party through the platforms that we published in the newspapers for all to see.

”Though the federal government has used some national institutions to stifle our party’s fund-raising efforts, Nigerians have utilized the available platforms to make their donations. It is therefore a futile exercise for anyone to harass some innocent people for supposedly FINANCING the APC,” it said.

The APC said security agencies should only serve national, rather than partisan, interests, because while governments will always come and go, Nigeria as a country will remain.

”The information at our disposal about the role of the security agencies in the forthcoming elections is very disturbing, despite the public opprobrium that has greeted the role played by the military in rigging the 2014 Ekiti governorship election.

”For example, there is a plan for at least 500 security agents to apply to work as ad hoc INEC staff so they can rig for the PDP, while military and police uniforms are being sewn in a PDP-controlled state in the South-west, with a view to making them available for PDP thugs to wear on election day, so they can harass and intimidate the opposition

”There is also the disturbing case of four senior officers of the State Security Service (SSS) who are being retained for some ignoble role during the general elections, even though they are already due for retirement. It is interesting that these officers, including three at the states and one at the headquarters of the SSS, are all from the South-East and the South-South, which the Jonathan-led administration considers its stronghold.

”Equally disturbing is the fact that a section of the security services has been making sensitive information available to certain PDP members, including a loose-lipped state Governor, just to get at the opposition. This is sad because Nigeria is bigger than any political party,” the party said.

It therefore appealed to the security agencies to be non-partisan, professional and patriotic in carrying out their duties before, during and after the general elections.

”Put Nigeria first, don’t favour the PDP, don’t favour the APC, don’t favour any party,” the APC told the security agencies.

Jonathan planning to use SSS to harass our financial sponsors - APC

SSS’ll appeal court judgment on el-Rufai, says Ogar

The Department of State Services, has said it would appeal the judgment of the Federal High Court, Awka, which ordered it to apologise and pay N2 million to a former FCT Minister, Nasir el-Rufai, for restricting his movement during the governorship election in Anambra State in 2013.

Marilyn Ogar, Spokesperson, DSS

The service rejected the order, saying some facts may have been overlooked in the case, noting that it would therefore appeal the judgment.

The Deputy Director, Public Relations, DSS, Marilyn Ogar, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the 1999 Constitution empowered the service to detain any suspect for not more than 48 hours before recourse to a court of law.

According to her, the department would be operating like a ministry if it cannot intercept, detain and investigate suspects.

She said, “As a responsive Service, we hold the Judiciary and its sanctity in high esteem, but when you disagree with certain pronouncements of Court, you have the right to appeal and in this case, we will appeal.

“The Instrument setting up the Service and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended gives the Service statutory powers to detain and investigate any suspect for not more than 48 hours before recourse to a Court of Law. In this instance, the complainant was not confined or ‘detained’ for more than two hours.

“If we cannot intercept, detain and investigate, then we would, with due respect, be operating like any Ministry of the Federal Government.”

Ogar denied that the DSS imposed a general restriction on movement during the elections as averred by el-Rufai, noting that it was the duty of the Independent National Electoral Commission, to take measures necessary for the smooth conduct of any election, “and in this case they deemed it proper to restrict movement during voting hours,” she added.

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SSS’ll appeal court judgment on el-Rufai, says Ogar

APC attacks SSS over harassment on Oby Ezekwesili

•Urges #BringBackOurGirls campaigners to continue until Chibok girls are rescued

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State Chapter, has condemned, in the strongest terms, the harassment of former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, as she tried to travel to London for a scheduled engagement.

Ezekwesili

Rivers APC in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, described the action of the SSS as shameful, unwarranted and a throwback to the dark days of military dictatorship.

“For SSS operatives to attempt to confiscate the travel documents of Mrs. Ezekwesili and seek to prevent her from boarding her flight just because she is leading the campaign to get the Goodluck Jonathan administration to do something meaningful to free the abducted Chibok schoolgirls speaks eloquently about government’s lack of seriousness in looking for these innocent girls who were in the first place abducted because government abdicated its responsibility of providing their school with the needed security. This means that Nigeria has returned to the dark days of military dictatorship when the rights of Nigerian citizens were trampled upon with impunity,” Ikanya said.

The party chairman further described the action as “barbaric, wicked, unjust and a slap on the faces of the abducted Chibok girls, who have inexplicably spent over three months in Boko Haram’s custody while the Jonathan administration carries on as if nothing has gone wrong.”

Rivers APC commended Dr. Ezekwesili and her group for refusing to be cowed and for forging ahead with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign despite all efforts by the Presidency to get them to abandon the struggle. “We are happy that this act of tyranism aimed at intimidating Dr. Ezekwesili has failed woefully. We appeal to this woman of rare courage and her group to soldier on until the Jonathan administration does the right thing by rescuing and bringing home the over 250 schoolgirls abducted from their dormitory by the Boko Haram sect on the night of April 14,” the party said.

We are happy to note also that the SSS operatives later allowed good reasons to prevail by releasing the travel documents of this great Amazon of our democracy and allowed her to travel for her scheduled London event. We are hoping that the SSS operatives and other security organs in the nation will not allow themselves to be used as oppression tools in the hands of a misguided Presidency to suppress their perceived political opponents.

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APC attacks SSS over harassment on Oby Ezekwesili

Man who sent 486 alleged travellers to Rivers arrested

 

• 86 B/Haram Suspects’ Sponsor Arrested.


• • Cameroon soldiers kill 10 sect members


• • Nigeria hires US PR firm over insurgency

The Department of State Security Services (SSS) said yesterday that it had apprehended a man who allegedly sent 486 travellers suspected to be Boko Haram members to Port-Harcourt, Rivers.

Ms Marilyn Ogar, Deputy Director, Public Relations Department of the SSS, disclosed this at a joint security briefing held at Emab plaza, the scene of a bomb blast that rocked Abuja on Wednesday.

Ogar said that the suspect was apprehended in Bauchi and would be taken to Abia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the 486 travellers suspected to be members of the terrorists group, Boko Haram, were arrested in Abia on Sunday June 15.

“I want to seize this opportunity to say that the main man that sent the 486 travellers to Port-Harcourt was apprehended in Bauchi and we are taking him straight to Abia,’’ she said.

On the Emab Plaza bombing, Ogar said that the security agencies had pre-information of a planned attack at a busy shopping mall or market in Abuja.

She explained that the service deployed its men to comb the shopping complexes, and create awareness and took preventive measures when they got the information.

Ogar also said that among the steps taken was to prevent those who had no business within the shopping malls from entry.

“Everyday, the surveillance group will go round to the motor parks, supermarkets and markets trying to ensure that the instructions we left behind were adhered to.

“Yesterday, the surveillance team was at the plaza up till 12.30 p.m. observing and when they noticed that the security people on duty were actually enforcing our directives, they had to retreat,’’ she said.

Ogar stressed that the pro-active measures taken by the security assisted in preventing high casualty figure at the plaza.

“As you all know that when the man came, he tried to penetrate the main entrance but was refused.

“As it was typical of them (the terrorists) they would want to beat traffic or beat security to come in through the other entrance.

“In a forceful bid to enter the plaza, the explosion occurred,’’ she said.

She disclosed that among the injured at the incidence were two Turkish nationals.

Ogar appealed to Nigerians to continue to give information that would assist the security agencies to nip terrorism in the bud.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Frank Mba, called for the institution of a very strict regime of access control in business places.

Mba said that it was the level of access control in the Emab Plaza that minimised the situation, noting that the terrorists did not find it easy to enter the complex.

“We want to encourage Nigerians, particularly managers of busy business malls, cinema houses and other big corporate entities that record a lot of visitors to help us by instituting a strong and strict access control regime,

“A strong, efficient and effective control, enough to serve as a deterrent to would be suicide bombers.

“Secondly, we want to encourage citizens, especially owners and managers of business malls to go a step further by installing CCTV cameras in their places of business.

“If we have cameras in places like this shopping mall, it will be of strong investigative value to security forces, as we commence investigations in to the incidence,’’ he said.

Mba also underscored the need for hawkers to be kept away from places like shopping malls and other big business places. (NAN)

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Man who sent 486 alleged travellers to Rivers arrested

Nigerian man who tweeted Boko Haram jailbreak released

By Ehi Ekhator

After days of continuous pressure from the media on the whereabout of the man who tweeted pictures of an attempted jail break in Abuja, Yusuf Onimisi Siyaka has been released this morning.

Though the time of his release was not cleared but it was confirmed by his family that Siyaka is back home.

His aunty who refused to give her name said that her brother returned home and a driver was asked to drive him to Kogi state to see his mother who has been worried over his sudden arrest.

She also confirmed that Mr. Siyaka was in good health and did not seem traumatised.

While speaking to reporters in the presence of other sympathizes who visited Mr. Siyaka, she appeared scared, a sign to show that she must have been warned by the SSS agents on what not to say to the anyone and the press.

Though she said Mr. Siyaka has gone to Okene to see his mother, information leaked that he was in the building and the family was only avoiding from allowing him to speak with anyone about his arrest.

Mr. Siayaka was arrested by the SSS after tweeting a picture of the incident that happened in Abuja concerning the jailbreak attempt by members of the Boko Haram sect reported by the agency.

Eyewitness said he was arrested in his office by men on plain clothes and taken away, and was not allowed to  talk to his family members nor a lawyer.

The media also reported that SSS, despite the several reports by different media, has refused to comment to confirm or deny the accusation.

 

Nigerian man who tweeted Boko Haram jailbreak released

SSS interrogates detained Boko Haram suspects

State Security Service (SSS) officials are questioning detained Boko Haram suspects to ascertain if external collaborators were involved in Sunday’s failed —and bloody —jailbreak.

Twenty-one suspects died in the attempted jailbreak at the Abuja SSS facility, according to the Service.

Some suspects, especially passers-by, arrested within the vicinity of the SSS Asokoro headquarters have been released – in line with the Service’s “respect for human rights”.

It was learnt that some of those arrested had valid identification cards and they were passers-by.

A new framework put in place by security agencies triggered the intervention of soldiers during the jailbreak.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said the Service had started finding out the remote and immediate causes of the botched jailbreak.

The source said: “We are de-briefing all the detainees to determine how the plot was hatched and if external collaborators were involved.

“We may also look into the likelihood of internal collaboration, although the strict system of recruitment might make it impossible. This is the only service that conducts serious security checks before employing its operatives.

“What we are doing involves interaction with these detainees by a team of officials, who have been mandated to dig deeper into the foiled jailbreak.”

On the proposed Board of Inquiry into the incident by the Presidency, another top security source said: “It is a routine thing in a crisis situation like this; it is not an indictment of the SSS. It is also not prejudicial to any internal investigation of the jailbreak by the SSS.

“The audacity of the Boko Haram detainees accounted for the Board of Inquiry option so as to prevent a reoccurrence in any security agency or military facility.

“Beyond the outcome of SSS investigation into the incident, the Board, which may comprise sister agencies, is to examine all particulars concerned with any event or challenge.”

Regarding the intervention of soldiers at the SSS facility, the source said: “The fact is that there is a new security framework in place to promote inter-agency cooperation.

“Once there is any challenge in any military formation or security agency, the new framework will trigger alarm for Rapid Response by other sister agencies.

“The soldiers merely responded to this alarm on Sunday by coming to the SSS headquarters. This is the technical or security justification for soldiers’ intervention. It is not as if the SSS was incapable of managing the situation.

There were indications last night that some suspects around the SSS headquarters, who were arrested in Abuja on Sunday, have been released based on the service’s respect for human rights.

Another source said: “Some of these suspects were passers-by but they have been released after due checks and frisking were conducted by the service.

“Since he came on board, the SSS DG, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong places premium on human rights and engagement in line with international best practices.”

SSS interrogates detained Boko Haram suspects

Breaking: 18 detainees allegely killed in SSS headquarter shootout

By Ehi Ekhator

It was earlier reported that there was a heavy gunfire in the Presidential villa vicinity and the headquarters of the Department of State Service in Asokoro District of Abuja.

It was said that a member of the Boko Haram attacked armed SSS, disarmed him and led to the shooting.

But one of the residence said that they didn’t know what was going on as heavy gunfire was coming from the direction of the villa. He disclosed that the entire area was barricaded and SSS operatives were scampering out of their headquarters as the gunshots get louder.

He also said that soldiers were  heading in the direction of the SSS headquarters with armoured Personnel Carriers and they were asked to stay in doors.

Responding to the issue, Spokesperson of the SS, Marilyn Ogar said the gunshots was as a result of an attempted jailbreak at the headquarter by a detained member of Boko Haram and promised to gather more information before speaking further.

Later, Reuben Abati also said  ” What happened at the SSS Headquarter has nothing to do with the villa. President Jonathan is safe and well. Thank you for your concern and support.

Naija Center News message to Mr. Abati yielded no response.

But information disclosed by a source revealed that 18 detainees kill in the shootout..

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Breaking: 18 detainees allegely killed in SSS headquarter shootout