The Department of State Services (DSS) has revealed the impressive attainments achieved by its special clamp down operation on political thugs and other criminals ahead of 2023 general elections, scheduled to kick off tomorrow.
DSS in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said It will continue to discharge its mandate of disseminating timely, actionable and proactive intelligence necessary for tactical, operational and strategic decisions even beyond the elections along with other sister security and law enforcement agencies in order to achieve a hitch free general and credible election for Nigeria.
The DSS however revealed that contrary to the false alarm of molestation raised by one of the political parties in Kano State, the Service in its operation across the states had on 22nd February 2023 conducted a legally backed search operation on a property along Airport Road, Nasarawa LGA, Kano State, during which it recovered dangerous weapons including a gun, daggers, swords, jack-knives from the said building.
”Therefore, the accusation that the Service intimidated a particular political party in that State is untrue; otherwise, how come those weapons were found there? Are those objects of violence campaign materials? Whether in Kano or elsewhere, the DSS has provided equal opportunities for all political parties to engage in their lawful activities. We can say this without any form of contradictions or equivocations.” the statement disclosed.
According to the statement, ”On the same 22nd February 2023, the Service arrested a gunrunner, Aliyu YAHAYA, an associate of Kachalla Damina, a suspected bandit who operates around Dansadau, Zamfara State. Items recovered from YAHAYA include: one GPMG Rifle; one chain of ammunition, One Hundred and Ninety (190) rounds of GMPG Ammunition, Twenty-Eight (28) rounds of AK47 Ammunition and One (1) grenade. The suspect was going to deliver the armaments to DAMINA (See picture of Yahaya and the dangerous materials seized from him).
In Kaduna State, two (2) arm couriers namely Tukur Usman and Illiyasu Adamu were arrested at Chikun LGA, on 20th February 2023. Three Hundred and Seventy-Two (372) rounds of 7.62 X 39mm ammunition; Twenty-Six (26) rounds of live ammunition for GPMG rifle were recovered from them. The duo were suspected arm suppliers to bandits in Zamfara State. Earlier, on 22nd January 2023, the duo of Shafíu Usman and Ahmed Nasiru were arrested on the Barkin Ladi-Pankshin Road, Plateau State while on transit to deliver ammunitions to their customers. Six Hundred and Twelve (612) rounds of ammunition for GPMG-120 and AK-492 concealed in a bag of rice were seized from them.
On 16th February 2023, at Asaba, Delta State, Fajuwon Isaac was arrested. Four Thousand, Five and Three (4,503) rounds of pump action rifle ammunition among others were recovered from him.
On 18th February 2023, in Anambra State, the Service arrested the quartet of Sunday Muokwue, Oforjeri Osita, Ude Bernard John and Okechukwu Emeka and recovered among others from them, one AK-47, Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Five (3,985) rounds of AK-47 ammunition.”
The statement however urged all citizens and residents to be law abiding before, during and after the elections, imploring eligible voters to cast their votes without any form of violence and also maintain the peace after that.