CITIZENS COMPASS – THE Department of State Services (DSS) has called on the citizens to be vigilant as the Eid-el Kabir celebration approaches, adding that in a bid to nip crime in the bud, a joint team of security agencies has embarked on operation to flush out criminals from Kogi and Nasarawa states.
The joint security team comprises the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army and Police.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Mr. Peter Afunanya, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), noted that the joint team, on Monday along the Abuja- Keffi Expressway in Keffi LGA of Nasarawa State, apprehended one Abubakar Muhammad (aka Abu Direba), a suspected gunrunner. During the operation, the team seized the following insidious items:
a. Four Hundred and Eighty-Six (486) rounds of 7.62 x39mm calibre ammunition;
b. Twenty-Two (22) primed IEDs
c. The sum of Thirty-One Thousand, Five Hundred naira (N31,500)
d. One (1) Volkswagen Golf vehicle with registration number- RBC202XA.
Again, in the early hours of Thursday, a team raided the hideout of one Kabir Bala (aka Okwo), one time jail breaker and notorious gang leader in Ejule, Ofu LGA of Kogi State.
Okwo and his gang members, NAOSNP learnt, engaged the troops in a gun duel during which he was neutralised. Others, the report said, however, fled the area. Some items recovered at the scene were one AK47 rifle with three (3) fully loaded magazines, six (6) locally fabricated weapons, two (2) phones and charms.
Reiterating its call for vigilance prior to the Eid celebrations, the DSS revealed that reports had indicated plans to attack worship and recreational centres before and during the festivities.
“This is evident in the recovery of primed IEDs among the suspected terrorists,” the Service said.
The Service therefore, advised operators and patrons of public places including markets, malls etc, to be watchful and report any suspicious movements and persons to the relevant security agencies.
“Accordingly, the Service will continue to partner with sister agencies for necessary proactive drills to frustrate criminals and their activities,” the statement concluded.
