TheNewsGuru

Tag: dss

  • DSS places Badeh’s wife, children on watch list, may miss burial

    Indications emerged on Wednesday that the family members of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.), may miss his burial as they remain on the watch list of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    Badeh’s widow, Mary Iya Badeh, and his two sons, Alex (jnr) and Kam have been in the United States since 2016 following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A family friend of the Badehs said it was unlikely if they would come.

    He said, “I have spoken with them and I don’t know for now if they will be coming but it is highly unlikely. Their father has just been killed under controversial circumstances and the government has not removed them from the watch list. If they return and their passports are seized and they are not allowed to return, it would be a double tragedy.

    “Everybody is still in shock so we cannot say for now if they will be coming but since they are Christians, there is no rush. A lot can happen before then.”

    A prosecution witness, Abubakar Madaki, had told a Federal High Court sitting in Maitama that Badeh’s wife and two of his children were being investigated for offences with which the ex-Chief of Air Staff was charged.

    Madaki said the three of them, however, escaped to the United States before the investigation was concluded.

    He said all attempts to get them arrested turned out to be futile.

    The witness had said, “At the initial stage, when we started the investigation, we invited Alex Badeh (Jnr.) who lives in 19 Kumasi Crescent, Abuja, one of the properties, among the properties earlier mentioned.

    “He happened to be a son of the first defendant (Badeh). He claimed to be a tenant in that property and since an investigation was ongoing at the preliminary stage, we allowed him to go and come back when we had enough issues to question him about.

    “He left and never came back. We later got to know that he has left the country for America.

    “We were also looking for Mary Iya Badeh, the wife of the first defendant, who is one of the directors in the second defendant (Iyalikam Nigeria Limited).

    “The second defendant (Iyalikam) had received so much funds from the alleged funds we are investigating.

    “She too, according to the investigation has left the country for America. Kam Badeh (another of Badeh’s son) is one of the directors in one of the companies.

    “We have gone round the locations that we had information that he does business, but we are unable to get him.

    “Since the information was that they left through the International Airport, we wrote a letter to the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Department of Security Service to watch them. But we have not been able to get them.”

    He said when his team concluded investigation in the case, it “discovered that the first defendant (Badeh) and his wife had earlier incorporated a company Iyalikam Nigeria Limited” in whose accounts they allegedly diverted the Nigerian Air Force’s funds.

    Recall that the former Chief of Defence Staff and two of his domestic staff were shot dead on Tuesday evening on their way from the farm.

     

  • Court orders EFCC, DSS, police to arrest Diezani within 72 hours

    Court orders EFCC, DSS, police to arrest Diezani within 72 hours

    The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, in Apo, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered the arrest of the immediate-past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is currently under investigation for corruption allegations in the United Kingdom.

    EFCC’s acting spokesperson, Mr. Tony Orilade, said this in a statement on Tuesday.

    Ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Justice Valentine Ashi, gave the anti-graft agency, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Department of States Security Service and all other security agencies to arrest her within 72 hours.

    “The Inspector General of Police, the Chairman of the EFCC, the Attorney General, the Department of State Services, are hereby ordered in the name of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria to apprehend and arrest the first defendant and produce her before this court for further directives within 72 hours”, the judge ordered.

    The same judge had on Monday, on the request by the EFCC, granted leave permitting the anti-graft agency to arraign her and one of her associates, Olajide Omokore, on five counts of corruption allegations.

    Both the order of arrest and the charges filed before the court are part of the moves to have the former minister extradited to Nigeria from the UK.

    EFCC’s Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, had recently said the commission was planning to extradite the ex-minister to Nigeria following the commission’s dissatisfaction with ýthe handling of the case by the UK government.

    Earlier praying for Alison-Maduekwe’s arrest on Tuesday, EFCC’s lawyer, Msuur Denga, said the order of arrest was to enable the commission to apprehend and arraign her for the alleged financial crimes in Nigeria.

    The EFCC said it had investigated the former minister along with Omokore, a former Chairman, Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, following a petition dated October 2, 2013, from the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, bordering on money laundering and official corruption.

    EFCC added in a statement, “Investigations into the petition revealed that Madueke as supervising minister of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, was found to have engaged in illicit and monumental fraudulent dealings in oil transactions, which she entered into on behalf of the Federal Government.

    “Madueke and Omokore, are also alleged to have accepted and given gifts in properties located at Penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and Penthouse 21, Building 5, Block C, Banana Island, Lagos. They are to be arraigned on February 25, 2019 on a five-count for the offences, which are contrary to Sections 26(1) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

    The EFCC had said Alison-Madueke left the country for the United Kingdom while investigations into the allegations against her were ongoing.

  • DSS arrests estate agent for raping, extorting American

    A real estate agent, Mathew Adedoyin, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services for holding an American hostage and repeatedly raping her.

    The accused, who reportedly claimed to be a prince of Ile-Ife in Osun State, reportedly invited Tawanda Lynn Jackson, a mother of five, who he met on the social media, to Nigeria, but he allegedly held her hostage upon her arrival in the country and forcefully hard carnal knowledge of the victim.

    Jackson, 46, who arrived Lagos on Sunday, November 11, 2018, was said to have been received at the airport by Adedoyin.

    Parading Adedoyin and his alleged accomplice, Idowu Ayeni, in Lagos on Monday, the DSS said the estate agent claimed to the black American that he was a wealthy prince from the Arogbatesu Royal Family of Ile-Ife, Osun State, with the intention of extorting money from her.

    The 40-year-old Adedoyin was said to have lied to the victim that he was an exporter of ginger and bitter cola, had large plantations of cocoa and palm trees, and claimed that he had lots of slaves working for him.

    The Director, Lagos Command, DSS, Mrs Betty Adoki, said the American Embassy in Lagos had reported Jackson’s abduction to the command, which immediately commenced investigation that culminated in the raid of the suspects’ criminal hideout by a team of security operatives and military personnel of the 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Lagos.

    The suspected abductors, according to the DSS, received the victim at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on November 11 and lodged her at the Turn Up Hotel, Ipaja, for three days before moving her to a prepared hideout in Abule Egba, where she was held hostage.

    Adoki alleged that Adedoyin had earlier reserved Protea Hotel, Ikeja, as accommodation for the victim while in Nigeria, but he was said to have deliberately moved her to another hotel in order to prevent the monitoring of Jackson by the embassy.

    Adoki said, “He (Adedoyin) said that his father was a former king of Ife Titun, Osun State and that he was the heir apparent to the throne. He further cajoled the victim that he owned several buildings in Lagos, including where Jackson was held hostage.

    “But the victim started to suspect a foul play when he was losing patience and said he rented the place, a ramshackle place that he had earlier claimed his father owned.”

    The prime suspect reportedly seized Jackson’s passport, credit card and US identity card in order to prevent her possible escape.

    “Consequently, on November 26, 2018 at about 0200hours, Jackson was rescued from the captivity of these criminal elements, who are suspected to be Internet fraudsters and kidnappers. Jackson was held hostage at No. 7 Akanbi Street, Abule Egba, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos by one Mathew Adedoyin and his accomplice, Idowu Ayeni,” Adoki added.

    She said investigation would be intensified after which the suspects would be prosecuted in line with relevant laws.

    Speaking to journalists while being paraded, Adedoyin, who claimed to be a real estate agent, denied abducting the victim or raping her.

    He said that she asked him for sex, adding that the decision to come down to Nigeria was hers with the intention of getting married to him.

    Adedoyin admitted that on her arrival in Lagos, he lodged her at Turn Up Hotel, but had to move her to his friend’s house pending when he would raise money for her return ticket to the US.

    He also denied seizing the victim’s passport, saying that he only helped her to keep it safe after he realised that she was carefree with her bag containing her travel and other documents anytime they went out.

    His accomplice, Ayeni, said he was uncomfortable when Adedoyin brought the victim to his house and had no concrete plans on when they intended to leave.

    Ayeni, who said he works as a litigation officer in a law firm, denied knowing anything about his friend’s plans, adding that his involvement was to let them stay for a few days in his abode.

     

  • DSS nabs suspected Boko Haram, kidnapper`s medic in Kaduna

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a suspected Boko Haram and kidnappers medic, Yusuf Salisu, aka Bala at Sabon Birni village, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Peter Afunanya, said in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday that the suspect was arrested on Nov. 9 by a joint DSS and Military team.

    Afunanya said until his arrest, he operated a medicine store and regularly treated wounded kidnappers or their victims.

    He added that the suspect had been linked with 13 high profile Boko Haram Commanders on the wanted list of security agencies in the country.

    The spokesman said that the service has also arrested four members of a gunrunning syndicate while two members of the group, Bitrus Badung and Emeka Obi were still at large.

    The suspects are: Kim Dung, a local AK-47 rifle fabricator, Hubert Akubulo, aka Okafor, Chidi Stanley and Elochukwu Oguabia.

    It would be recalled that a member of the syndicate, Dare Okunwola, aka Boda, had earlier been arrested by the joint team in Jos.

    He said that during the operation, 1,163 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the group.

    Afunanya said that the service had also arrested a notorious suspected kidnapper, Muhammad Musa, aka Zara while perfecting plans to kidnap a lawmaker and a prominent personality in Kaduna and Kano respectively.

    He said that the suspect was arrested on Nov. 7 at Mararaban-Jos, also in Igabi local government area of Kaduna state.

    The spokesman said that the service also arrested a suspected member of the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), Umar Nuhu, who was a close associate of Liman Maitukwane, current leader of Ansaru group.

    He said that the suspect was arrested on Nov. 13 at Rafin-Guza, Kaduna State by the joint team.

    The spokesman said that the group was responsible for several attacks on Military Bases in the North- East.

    He said that the service on Nov. 16 arrested five suspected members of a kidnap and cattle rustling syndicate at Gumel, Jigawa while on transit.

    The suspects are: Shuaibu Shehu, Abdulkarim Dauda, Adamu Usaini, Umar Adamu and Usaini Shede.

    Afunanya said items recovered from him are one AK-47 Rifle, one locally made Pistol, two military uniforms, 64 cows, four donkeys, some rams and two machetes.

    He said that the service would sustain these efforts aimed at ridding the country of all forms of criminality.

    “Every law abiding person is enjoined to be patriotic and volunteer useful information that will help accomplish this task,“ he said.

    He appreciated sister security agencies whose unrelenting efforts have guaranteed these successes, adding that adequate security would be put in place during and after the yuletide and elections.

    NAN

     

  • Alleged $55m bribe: DSS urges Buhari to prosecute Oshiomhole

    Alleged $55m bribe: DSS urges Buhari to prosecute Oshiomhole

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, for allegedly receiving over $55 million in bribes.

    The former Edo State governor had initially been detained by the agency on November 4, 2018 and interrogated for nine hours on allegations made by certain governors that he received bribes to manipulate the APC’s primary elections conducted across the country over a month ago.

    The agency was also revealed to have compelled Oshiomhole to resign as the APC chairman, but he refused, noting that he still had President Buhari’s confidence. That confidence might be on the wane now if the report of the DSS, based on its findings, is anything to go by.

    According to SaharaReporters, the report, which has already been forwarded to Buhari, indicated that Oshiomhole most notably received bribes from governorship candidates in Imo, Ogun, and Zamfara states.

    “Hope Uzodinma, the APC governorship candidate in Imo State, gave $3 million; Rochas Okorocha, Governor of the state, offered $500,000 but it was rejected; Dapo Abiodun, the APC candidate in Ogun State, paid $5 million. The DSS also said some of the money was paid into Oshiomhole’s niece’s account,” a source told SaharaReporters.

    The source also disclosed that the report alleged that Oshiomhole received $17 million as bribe from Zamfara State. A former Ekiti State governor, Niyi Adebayo, and a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouk Adamu, were listed as his accomplices in the DSS report which has also been forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The source noted that the presidency and top party officials including APC national leader, Bola Tinubu and vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, are trying to deal with the controversy as delicately as possible because of the impact it could have on the party’s chances in the upcoming 2019 general elections.

    The primary elections of the APC to choose candidates to contest in the 2019 general elections has been trailed by a lot of divisions and controversies within the party.

    A lot of state governors are openly feuding with Oshiomhole over what they’ve alleged to be his role in truncating the processes to install certain candidates.

    His most notable feuds are with Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, and Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari who all failed in their bids to handpick their successors.

    While he has maintained his innocence about the allegations, Oshiomhole has also decried the role of the DSS in the episode, arguing that it should be investigated by the EFCC instead.

  • ASUU decries detention of chairman

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapters of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and Bauchi State University, Gadau, had decried the detention of ATBU chapter Chairman, Dr Adamu Babayo, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The Vice Chairman of the association, Dr Ibrahim Maina, condemned the action at a joint press conference on Sunday in Bauchi.

    Maina alleged that Babayo was detained by the DSS operatives on Sunday, when he was invited to the department’s headquarters in Bauchi.

    He said: “the ASUU Chairman, Adamu Babayo was invited through a Short Service Message (SMS) which is not a formal way of invitation.

    “On Friday he received a text message requesting him to report to the DSS office in Bauchi on Sunday. He went to the office together with some of the executives of the association.

    “The DSS operatives requested other members of his entourage to leave and detained him in their office,” he said.

    Maina said that the action was a violation of fundamental human rights and queried the DSS to explain the reasons behind the arrest.

    “Let them explain to us why he was detained. That will give us the idea of what needs to be done.

    “If the detention is in connection with the ongoing strike; it is a nationwide strike embarked on by the universities in the country and not a peculiar or personal problem.

    “What wrong have we done by pressing for our rights through the strike,” he queried.

    Maina maintained that industrial action is the rights of a worker as enshrined in the civil service act, which enable workers to press home their demands.

    However, a DSS official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied the allegation, insisting that Babayo was not detained but invited to answer some questions.

    ASUU had on Nov. 5 embarked on an indefinite strike to press for implementation of the agreement reached with Federal Government in 2017.

     

  • Oshiomhole opens up on being arrested by DSS

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, has denied that he was arrested, detained and granted administrative bail by the Department of State Services (DSS), after eight hours of interrogation.

    Oshiomhole, speaking with editors in Lagos, insisted that he saw DSS once and had conversation with them.

    “It was not an arrest or detention”, he said.

    His words, “The conversation centered around APC primaries. The question now is whether or not it is the DSS job to interfere in a political party’s issues. And if there’s an allegation of corruption, it is the responsibility of EFCC and ICPC.”

    Oshiomhole dismissed the rumour that DSS rescheduled another meeting with him.

    The former Edo state governor also said he was not released on administrative bail, adding that the Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello, did not come to pick him up from the DSS office.

    “I was the one who called Yahaya Bello and he came but I drove home in my own car.”

    Reacting on the Peoples Democratic Party’s call for his arrest, Oshiomhole said, “What would they have said if it was the PDP chairman that was invited by DSS, for instance over the dollar bazaar at their Port Harcourt primary?

    “They would have said democracy is under threat and would have fired a letter to the UN as they often ridicule themselves.”

  • Alleged corruption: Untold story of how DSS held Oshiomhole hostage for eight hours

    Details have emerged of how the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was held hostage at the Department of State Security Service (DSS) for eight hours last Sunday at the behest of some governors and some forces in the party to force him to resign.

    Oshiomhole, however, stood his ground and rebuffed the pressure mounted on him to resign.

    He told the DSS that he committed no crime and would therefore not resign, no matter the intimidation.

    Although the APC chairman was caught unawares, he maintained his stand even when DSS officials tried to invoke the name of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He pointedly told them that the President was in the know of all that happened during the APC primaries and that it was their collective resolve not to allow imposition of candidates by anybody, no matter his status in the party.

    It later turned out that some security operatives had plotted Oshiomhole’s resignation with about six APC governors.

    According to report by The Nation, plot to lay ambush for him was hatched by the affected governors in connivance with some powerful forces who were aggrieved over the outcome of the recent primaries of the APC.

    The governors are from Southwest, Northcentral, Southeast and Northwest.

    Four of them are angry with the party for not allowing them to impose their favourites as the party’s candidates in their states.

    One Southwest governor is in sympathy with a fellow Southwest governor for standing by him recently when it mattered most.

    The Northcentral governor is up in arms with Oshiomhole for insisting on direct primary.

    There were insinuations that some former APC elements in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave tacit backing to the plot by the APC governors in order to render the party weak ahead of the presidential campaign beginning from November 18.

    It was gathered that the plotters knew that the APC national chairman was due for a private visit abroad, hence they opted to seal his fate before the trip.

    The President was said to have been kept in the dark till the coup was hatched.

    The plan was to hoodwink Buhari and present him with Oshiomhole’s resignation letter to prevent any intervention.

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Some of the governors behind the ambush had relocated to Abuja ahead of the invitation of Oshiomhole by the DSS. I

    “In fact, one of them told a member of the Election Committee in his state to expect a major news on Sunday. He was quoted to have said ‘by Sunday, Oshiomhole is gone and all of you will be put to shame.’

    “They opted for forcible removal of Oshiomhole to take advantage of the substitution window for candidates.

    “The two options considered against Oshiomhole were either to get the DSS to arrest or invite him.

    “Some of the governors actually felt that arresting him on spurious charges of fraud would make greater news and prevent Buhari from intervening like he did in the case with some judges.

    “Unknown to the plotters, the APC national chairman had travelled to lyamho, his village in Edo State, to spend the weekend before jetting out to meet with his family abroad on Tuesday.

    “The trip to Edo frustrated the first leg of the plot as it was too late for the DSS operatives involved in the plot to stop him from traveling to Edo State.”

    Another source gave insight into how Oshiomhole received DSS invitation and why he reported to the agency on Sunday.

    The second source said: “Last Saturday, a call was put to Oshiomhole by a DSS operative in Iyamho with an urgent tone that he should report at the DSS headquarters. But the APC chairman was not moved because he did not commit any crime.

    “On Sunday, he returned to Abuja and honoured DSS invitation where he was told about a petition against him bothering on fraudulent activities.

    “For about eight hours, it was a ding dong affair between the DSS interrogators and Oshiomhole over a demand for his resignation letter.

    “Being an intelligent leader, Oshiomhole pointedly asked for a copy of the petition against him for his response, because he knew he did not engage in any fraud.

    “No petition was presented to him. He rebuffed all attempts to force him to resign.

    “While the drama was going on, the governors behind the set up were using some proxies to monitor Oshiomhole’s engagement with the DSS.

    “The Northcentral governor was said to be in his house in Abuja with an official of the party from a state also in the North who they had hoped to appoint as acting chairman.

    “The governor’s impunity in his state was condoned by the party before Oshiomhole took over but now, the governor is being asked to do things in accordance with the APC constitution.

    “He is also not happy that Oshiomhole is insisting on direct primaries.

    “His fear is that when his election is due later in 2019, direct primary will not favour him. He was one of the governors who told the public that the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) opted for indirect primaries some months back as against direct primary which was the preferred option.”

    After being adamant for many hours, Oshiomhole was let off the hook by the DSS.

    He insisted that he would not resign without hearing from the President and they could not provide any evidence that the President knew about their action.

    On how he left DSS custody, the source said: “In fact, a governor of the APC came to pick him. There was no issue of surety at all.

    “It was uncertain if the governor was just being benevolent or was one of the plotters.

    “The governors who were in Abuja had already put a media plan in place to force the NWC to issue a statement that Oshiomhole has resigned.

    “The governors later realised that the plot had failed as soon as Oshiomhole survived the siege in DSS headquarters.

    “Curiously, some forces in PDP were also in a hotel trying to know the outcome of the unfolding drama in APC, having been told of the plot by their collaborating governors.

    Findings, however, confirmed that the President was not aware of either his invitation or the demand for his resignation.

    A presidency source added: “The President was shocked and angry when Oshiomhole met with him on Monday on his ordeal. He promised to look into the incident.

    “What the aggrieved governors did not know is that the APC chairman was always briefing the President on the challenges facing the party in some states. So, the President and Oshiomhole are always on the same page.

    “There was a time one of the governors went to meet with the President and raised some issues. After the governor’s narration, the President made a call and gave the phone to the governor, saying: ‘The chairman on the line. Speak with him.’

    “The affected governor was speechless and left the Presidential Villa in shame.”

    Buoyed by the backing of the President, Oshiomhole left the country on Tuesday to meet his family.

    A party source said: “He had already scheduled his personal trip. He was undaunted. He is not on exile. He has not committed any fraud.”

    The embattled party chairman is however expected in the country from London today.

  • Lai Mohammed lied; El-Zakzaky caters for himself, wife in DSS custody – Shi’ites

    Lai Mohammed lied; El-Zakzaky caters for himself, wife in DSS custody – Shi’ites

    The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, has said that its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky caters for himself and buys his domestic needs despite being in the custody of the Department of States Service, DSS.

    The group made the assertion in reaction to claim by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, that the Federal Government spends N3.5m monthly to feed El-Zakzaky.

    President, Media Forum of IMN, Ibrahim Musa, in a statement issued on Friday to journalists in Abuja said Mohammed’s claim was not true, adding that no such amount was spent on their leader.

    According to the group, El-Zakzaky’s quality of feeding had even worsened since he was transferred to Kaduna from Abuja six months ago.

    He said, “The Islamic Movement in Nigeria believes that this is part of the grand deception of this administration to present a ‘human face’ after it brutally slaughtered more than one thousand innocent and defenseless civilians in Zaria in December 2015.

    “Let us also note that his (El-Zakzaky’s) 3 sons who were also in his residence were among those murdered in cold blood in his presence and buried in mass graves. The atrocity didn’t just stop at that. His residence was completely razed and later flattened.

    “This same government had also told the world through the Federal High Court in Abuja that the Sheikh didn’t do anything wrong, but they shot him and the wife and all the atrocities was only to protect him. The Court was not convinced and so ordered that he should be set free. The government reneged.

    “Now they lie to the world that they are ‘good’ to him. “Moreover when some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria met the Sheikh early last month, among the things he complained of is the poor feeding he is facing since transferred to Kaduna six months ago.

    “Considering his age and failing health he deserves some special feeding arrangements, but those holding him custody have denied him that.

    “This clearly shows that some security officers are looting public funds under the guise of keeping the Sheikh under ‘protective custody’ which a federal high court in Abuja has since declared illegal under the constitution.

    “Also the Minister’s claim which he said is ‘off the record’ clearly exposes the corruption in the DSS. This figure could be true in their records, but they actually use that to loot public funds in the name of feeding the Sheikh, while in reality the Sheikh is the one catering for himself and buying all his domestic needs.

    “The N115,000 daily feeding claim by the Minister is similar to the case of Nigerian Prisons where the government claimed they spend N14,500:00 daily in feeding every individual prisoner in Nigeria. But a visit to the prison tells you that is all lies. The prisoner is malnourished and sick apart from living in congestion with absolutely zero hygiene.

    “We consider the statement of the Minister of information as an insult to the personality of our leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. We advise the Minister to desist from involving the Sheikh in his unfortunate lies and for once tell Nigerians the actual truth that the government does not spend such amount on Sheikh Zakzaky.

    “We reiterate our call for the government to free Sheikh Zakzaky to enable him seek medical treatment abroad.”

  • DSS arrests IS bomb expert, 10 kidnappers in Adamawa

    The Department of State Service (DSS) has arrested an alleged expert producing Improvised Explosive Devices for terrorist group, Islamic State, in West Africa, Abbas Abubakar, in the Toungo Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    The DSS said Abubakar, also known as Sambo, was arrested on Monday by operatives, while 10 suspected kidnappers were also arrested in Kaduna, Katsina, Kogi and Edo states.

    According to findings, Sambo was believed to an IED expert for the Islamic State and investigations were ongoing to fish out his accomplices.

    The DSS said on October 25, its operatives also arrested five suspected kidnappers in the Riga Chikun area of Kaduna State. Their names were given as: Isa Ahmadu, Suleiman Umar, Ibrahim Mallam, Ishaku Saidu and Mansur Mallam.

    According to the DSS, after preliminary investigation, the group’s hideout in Katsina State was raided and two other members, Muhammadu Ibrahim and Muhammed Isa, also were nabbed.

    Also in the Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, three kidnap suspects – Abdulhamid Isa, Adamu Adagiri and Nuhu Ahmed – who were allegedly in areas between Kogi and Edo states operating, were arrested.

    The DSS Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, confirmed the arrest of the suspected IS bomb expert and the kidnap suspects.

    He noted that the suspects would be charged to court after investigations.

    He said, “In its determination to contain the menace of kidnapping, the DSS has arrested high profile kidnappers and notorious elements in different locations. At Toungo LGA of Adamawa State, Abbas Abubakar, a suspected Improvised Explosives Device expert for the Islamic State in West Africa, was apprehended.

    “Investigations have so far uncovered leads that will enable the DSS and other sister agencies to address the menace. All the suspects will undoubtedly be prosecuted in accordance with the law. The DSS reassures the public that the tempo of these operations will be sustained and strengthened.

    “The service, therefore, enjoins everyone to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and avail them information that would guarantee peace, especially during the coming Yuletide and the general elections.”