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  • DSS invites youth leaders over plans to disrupt business activities at Abuja Airport

    DSS invites youth leaders over plans to disrupt business activities at Abuja Airport

    The Department of State Security Services (DSS) on Wednesday invited the National President of the Nigeria Youth Union (NYU), Chinonso Obasi alongside other youth leaders over alleged plans to disrupt official activities at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Obasi confirmed the invitation by the security agency, saying he was expected to be at DSS headquarters on Wednesday morning.

    The secret police wants the youth leaders to explain why they want to shut down the airport with a protest.

    Youth groups, comprising of Nigeria Youth Union (NYU), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), National Association of Colleges of Education Students (NACES), Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), Northern Youths Initaitive for Peace and Good Governance, had planned to disrupt peaceful activities at the airport on Wednesday to raise global awareness on the deplorable state of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Nigeria.

    It was aborted because of DSS invitation of leaders of the planned protest.

    Organisers of the protest told reporters that the plan to shut down the airport was because of the lukewarm attitude being shown by relevant authorities, particularly the leadership of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) to their demand for a better and efficient PHCs in Nigeria.

    Obasi said: “Our initial plan was to shut down the airport this morning (Wednesday) but that has been put on hold because of the DSS invitation. The meeting with DSS has been scheduled for this morning. Our next line of action will be communicated after our meeting with the DSS.

    “Howbeit, we won’t relent until we see things change. Over 1,000 comrades are already in Abuja to participate in the planned which will help us register their discontent with the situation of public healthcare facilities in Nigeria, and we are determined to continue until we effect the needed changes so that Nigerians, mostly poor people at the rural areas can get basic health care services at the PHCs.”

    He recalled that in February, hundreds of the youths shut down the headquarters of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for few hours to protest poor state of health care system particularly the PHCs.

    The youth took similar action and moved to the headquarters of ALGON few weeks after, to also register their discontent with the deplorable state of PHCs in Nigeria.

    Obasi said the decision to stage the peaceful protest was to drive home their message to the Governors and local government chairmen on the needs to leverage on the COVID-19 pandemic to revive the PHCs which would be more beneficial to rural communities.

    He said: “We have privileged information from federal ministry of health that the decision to revive the PHCs is on the governor and local government administration because the health is on the concurrent list.

    “But we are deeply pained and grossly disenchanted that some State Governors are totally dictating what happens at the local government level with particular emphasis on directly controlling and pocketing a great chunk of local government funds.”

  • How Nigerian Police ignored three different intelligence reports on Imo attacks – Ex-DSS chief

    How Nigerian Police ignored three different intelligence reports on Imo attacks – Ex-DSS chief

    A former Assistant Director at the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree on Thursday said the police were warned thrice before gunmen attacked a correctional facility and police headquarters facility in Imo State.

    Amachree revealed this in a monitored interview on Channels television on Thursday.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the attack, which took place on Monday, has been followed by another assault on a police facility in Imo State.

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has blamed the recent attacks on security facilities in the state on aggrieved politicians who aim to destabilise his government and that of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    But Amachree suggested on Thursday that such attacks, especially the Monday event, could have been averted if the police were on their toes.

    “There is enough actionable intelligence; actionable in the sense that it allows for space for people to execute it,” he said.

    “One week ahead of this particular event and 72 hours before the event and 48 hours before the event – so three times – the Nigeria police was informed that this was going to happen.

    “Some suspects that were being geolocated around the area were found surveilling the prisons and the police headquarters.

    “But you know, in our lackadaisical way, when the intelligence would come, they throw it by the side, and then of course when something happens, everybody runs around.”

    Amachree said the DSS could not have acted on its own intelligence because it is not “a fighting force.”

    “The actionable party is actually the police,” he said. “Because when they say a particular installation or facility is under threat, then the actionable party would go ahead to correct it.

    “The DSS is not a fighting force. They have a protective department that is basically responsible for the security of persons, VIPS. But when it comes to fighting, they always liaise with sister agencies, either the police or the military.”

    He stressed that “some people are just lazy to do their jobs” and advised that other states should learn from Lagos State.

    “Lagos, the same intelligence has been coming around and of course they have been proactive.

    “If it is happening in the North-East, it could happen in Lagos. (But) Lagos itself has taken proactive steps, especially when it comes to securing correctional facilities in the state. And I think that’s what other states should follow now because they can’t sit back and wait until it happens to them.”

  • DSS addresses allegations of torturing Buhari’s late driver

    DSS addresses allegations of torturing Buhari’s late driver

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has said that the late official driver to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Sa’idu Afaka , was not detained or tortured by the service before his death.

    A statement by Dr Peter Afunanya, DSS Public Relations Officer on Thursday in Abuja, said that reports in some section of the media that the department tortured the late driver to death was a misleading information.

    Afunanya said the driver was never arrested nor detained by the department.

    According to him, suspect handling method is usually in compliance with the tenets of criminal justice administration system and democracy.

    The DSS spokesman, therefore, urged the public to disregard the fake news trending in online platform.

    Recall that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, on April 6 announced the death of Afaka.

    Shehu said the late driver died after a prolonged illness and extended the condolences of the President to his family.

  • DSS releases sacked Ganduje’s spokesman Salisu Yakassai

    DSS releases sacked Ganduje’s spokesman Salisu Yakassai

     

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has released controversial ex-spokesman of Kano State Governor, Salisu Yakassai popularly called Dawisu.

    Elder state man and father to Dawisu, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai disclosed to this to the Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC Hausa on Monday).

    “My son has has been released but he still in Abuja with his sibblings” Yakasai said.

    Dawisu has been in the custody of the Secret Police for three days following his twit criticising President Muhammadu Buhari on the recent kidnapping of the girls at Government Secondary School Kegebe, Zamfara state.

  • Arrest of Ganduje’s ex-aide: Buhari wasn’t arrested when he demanded Jonathan’s resignation – Falana

    Arrest of Ganduje’s ex-aide: Buhari wasn’t arrested when he demanded Jonathan’s resignation – Falana

    Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, (SAN) has kicked condemned the arrest and detention of former Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, Salihu Tanko Yakasai.

    Salihu was arrested and subsequently sacked after he called for President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation over insecurity.

    In a statement on Sunday, Falana said Salihu is being held incommunicado in an undisclosed detention facility for merely exercising his freedom of expression enshrined in Section 39 of the Constitution,1999.

    Falana recalled that between 2013 and 2014, leaders of the APC, including Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinibu, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and Alhaji Lai Mohammed repeatedly asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to resign.

    He said they were never subjected to any form of intimidation for exercising their freedom of expression at the material time.

    The senior lawyer, who is the Interim Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), wondered why Salihu would be arrested after many civil society, chieftains of the APC and both chambers of the National Assembly have called for Buhari’s resignation or impeachment over insecurity.

    “The decision of the founding fathers of the present Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech, which must include freedom to criticise, should be praised and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided by the constitution must be resisted,” he said.

    “Those in public office should not be intolerant of criticism in respect of their office so as to ensure that they are accountable to the people. They should not be made to feel that they live in an ivory tower and therefore belong to a different class. They must develop thick skins and where possible, plug their ears with wool if they feel too sensitive or irascible.

    “In view of the foregoing, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Tanko-Yankasai from illegal custody. However, if the State Security Service has evidence that the political detainee has committed any criminal offence known to law he should be transferred to the Police for proper investigation and possible prosecution without any delay.”

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed that the former aide of Kano governor is in its custody.

  • Why we arrested Ganduje’s aide – DSS

    Why we arrested Ganduje’s aide – DSS

    The Department of State Services (DSS) says the arrest of Mallam Salihu Tanko-Yakassai, the Media Aide to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State followed issues beyond the expression of opinion in social media.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya made this known in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT).

    “This is to confirm that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai is with the DSS and he is being investigated over issues beyond the expression of opinions in the social media as wrongly alleged by sections of the public,’’ he stated.

    Recall that Gov. Ganduje on Saturday sacked the media adviser over alleged unguarded comments and utterances.

    He said Tanko-Yakassai failed to differentiate between personal opinion and official stand on matters of public concern.

    So, he said, he could not be allowed to continue to serve in a government he does not believe in.

  • DSS confirms arrest of sacked Ganduje’s aide, Salihu Tanko-Yakasai

    DSS confirms arrest of sacked Ganduje’s aide, Salihu Tanko-Yakasai

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has confirmed the arrest of Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, a former aide of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

    There have been concerns over his whereabouts since his criticism of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    His father had earlier dismissed the reports that his son was missing, saying it was security operatives who took him away.

    In a statement on Saturday evening, Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, said the former aide of Kano governor is under investigation.

    “This is to confirm that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai is with the Department of State Services. He is being investigated over issues beyond the expression of opinions in the social media as wrongly alleged by sections of the public,” the statement read.

    There have been different reactions to the arrest of Yakasai.

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had described it as “completely unacceptable”.

    Amnesty International, The Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), are among the organisations that have demanded the immediate release of Yakasai.

    His ordeal began after he tweeted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) government at all levels have failed in their responsibility to protect lives.

    He was reacting to the abduction of over 300 schoolgirls in Zamfara State.

  • DSS denies arresting Ganduje’s aide over social media comments criticizing Buhari

    DSS denies arresting Ganduje’s aide over social media comments criticizing Buhari

    The Department of State Services (DSS) Kano State Directorate, said it has not arrested Mr Salihu Yakasai over his recent tweets against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Director DSS Kano Directorate, Alhassan Muhammed disclosed this to Journalists on Saturday.

    Yakasai, who comments regularly on national issues was rumoured to have been picked by the secret police in the wake of schoolgirls abduction in Zamfara State where he described the APC government as failure.

    According to the DSS “We have not arrest or even invites Salihu, don’t forget he is our friend, sometimes, he advise us on issues of critical Security situations in Kano.”

    Meanwhile, the Kano State Governor, Umar Ganduje has sacked Yakasai over same social comments criticizing the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership at all levels

  • JUST IN: DSS arrests Ganduje’s aide for ‘criticizing’ Buhari

    JUST IN: DSS arrests Ganduje’s aide for ‘criticizing’ Buhari

    The Department of State Services has arrested Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a media aide to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, barely hours after he criticized President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Recall TheNEwsGuru (TNG) reported that Yakasai had in a series of tweets on Friday in reaction to the abduction of about 317 female students of Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara State, described Buhari-led government as a failure.

    The governor’s aide had also said if it was under another President’s watch that the abductions had happened, there would have been more outrage in the North.

    He tweeted, “Clearly, we as APC government, at all levels, have failed Nigerians in the number one duty we were elected to do which is to secure lives and properties. Not a single day goes by without some sort of insecurity in this land. This is a shame! Deal with terrorists decisively or resign.

    “Just last week it was #freekagaraboys, today we have a new hashtag #RescueJangebeGirls, who knows tomorrow what hashtag we will come up with? Perhaps one for ourselves when we get caught up in one of these daring attacks.

    “This is sad and heartbreaking, I feel helpless and hopeless. “I completely agree. Hypocrisy is in our DNA. Imagine what’s happening in the North now under GEJ or OBJ, what you will hear is he’s the enemy of the North and Muslims, but here we are, being ravaged by all sorts of insecurity but no collective rage, sai useless lamentations. SMDH.”

    However, @Dawisu who was missing after he made the tweets against Buhari was confirmed arrested by DSS.

    Confirming his arrest, one of Ganduje’s aides on Twitter, tweeted, “Alhamdulillahi we just confirmed @dawisu is at DSS office.”

     

  • DSS speaks on alleged attempted arrest of Sunday Igboho

    DSS speaks on alleged attempted arrest of Sunday Igboho

    The Department of State Services (DSS) said the service has not made any attempt to arrest Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as “Igboho”, contrary to publications in some sections of the media.
    The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
    Afunanya said the publication that some personnel of the service attempted to arrest Igboho at Ibadan in Oyo State was not true.
    According to him, the said news is misinforming and should be taken as fake and therefore be disregarded.
    Reports in some sections of the media had alleged that men of the DSS on Friday attacked Igboho in Ibadan.
    It said that Igboho told the media he was disappointed that he was attacked by men of DSS without committing any offence.

    It also said Igboho had alleged that men of the service were acting on the instruction of unknown authorities who attempted to prevent him to move around in Ibadan and beyond.

    The report further said Igboho told the media that in spite of attempts by DSS to stop him, he was able to have his way to his scheduled meeting venue.