DSS arrests five suspected terrorists, warns against anti-handover plans
The Department of State Services has pledged to work with other security agencies to ensure the country is safe during the power transition period.
The agency said this was necessary as some elements were desperate to truncate the process.
The alarm by the DSS came after a joint operation by the operatives of the DSS,Nigerian Army and Nigeria Police Force led to the arrest of five terrorists in Kaduna and Kano states.
During the raid on terrorists’ hideouts in Kaduna, terrorists were said to have deployed Improvised Explosive Devices against operatives.
A statement on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the DSS, Peter Afunanya, said a terrorist with a suicide jacket was said to have blown himself up while three terrorists were arrested and two suicide jackets were recovered from them.
The statement partly read, “The DSS hereby informs the public that the service and troops of the Nigerian Army and Police Force, in the early hours of May 15, 2023, simultaneously raided hideouts of insurgents/terrorists in parts of Kaduna and Kano states.
“During the raid in Kaduna State, the terrorists used IEDs against the fighting forces. One of the terrorists who wore suicide jacket blew himself up.
While three suspects were arrested, items recovered upon a search on the group’s accommodation, after Police EOD had diffused other IEDs, were: two suicide jackets, one AK-47 rifle, a pistol, and one laptop.
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“In Kano State, two suspects were arrested while recovered items included a pistol, 11 mobile phones, two hand grenades, one fully-charged AK-47 magazine, two empty AK-47 magazines, one Peugeot 307 car, and an ID card belonging to a suspect that escaped.”
The DSS spokesman said as a result of the military onslaught on terrorists in the North-East, the terrorists had relocated to the North-West and North-Central where they have active cells.
“Intelligence had earlier revealed that high-profile terrorist targets were regrouping in the North-West to carry out dastardly acts in the area. Notably, the steady military operations in the North-East have necessitated the insurgents’ escape to the North-West and North-Central zones where they are establishing active cells.
“The DSS commends the Nigerian military and police for their resilience and support which led to the success of the operation. The sustained interagency synergy is, without doubt, a game changer in the counter-threat actions.”
Afunanya said the DSS would collaborate to ensure a glitch-free handover ceremony.
Afunanya said, “Also, the Service wishes to state and very clearly, that it will continue to collaborate with sister agencies to rid the nation of criminal elements, particularly at this transition period and even beyond.
“This is more so that certain persons are desperate to undermine the process. But the service will resist this and ensure a seamless event. It will always cooperate with stakeholders to achieve a peaceful environment critical to the pursuit of legitimate businesses law-abiding citizens and residents.”
