We Recovered Items From Ex-NSA’s Residence Capable Of Disrupting The Peace Of Any City In Nigeria – DSS

One of the trending news last week after the sack of Security Chiefs was the invasion of the residences of the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) by operatives of the Department for State Services from Thursday evening to Friday evening (24 hours).
While the former NSA later claimed the action of the DSS was a mere witch-hunt and part of a larger plot to rope him in some phantom charges, the security agency on Saturday night accused Mr. Dasuki of felony, corruption, misuse of power and possession of destructive weapons.
According to the DSS, seven high caliber rifles (assault weapons), several magazines, military related gears and 12 new vehicles, which included five bullet proof cars, were recovered from Dasuki’s home.
The Service said the items recovered from the former NSA were capable of disrupting the peace of any city in the country.
In a statement signed by an official of the DSS, Tony Opuiyo, the Nigerian secret police said the ex-NSA was economical with the truth in his account to a national newspaper of what transpired in his house.
The DSS in the statement, justified its actions saying it had “credible intelligence linking Dasuki with alleged plans to commit treasonable felony against the Nigerian State”.
Opuiyo said, “DSS conducted a search on the properties belonging to the former NSA. The properties are on Nos. 13, John Khadya Street, Nos. 46, Nelson Mandela Street, both at Asokoro, Abuja, and Nos. 3 Sabon Birni Road, Gwiwa Area, Sokoto, Sokoto State.
“The search operations were planned to be simultaneously conducted, but Dasuki refused the operatives entry into his main residence located at No. 13 John Khadya Street, Asokoro, despite being presented with a genuine and duly signed search warrant. Consequently, what was to last not more than two hours, lasted more than 10 hours, up till the early hours of July 17.
“If not for the sense of maturity and professionalism of the officers and men assigned this task and the very good understanding and timely intervention of the new Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai (Maj Gen), there would have been a clash between the Army operatives guarding the house and service operatives, as Dasuki directed the soldiers on duty not to allow any movement into his house, despite the subsisting court order”.
Opuiyo further said Dasuki, thereafter, raised the alarm to the military authorities to come to his aid.
The DSS also accused Dasuki of using military guards despite his removal as NSA over 48 hours before the invasion of his residences in Abuja and Sokoto.
Opuiyo stated, “He retired from the Army as a colonel, and therefore, not entitled to have military guards, if not for the fact that he was NSA. Even as NSA, such guards should have been withdrawn after his removal as NSA since he would not have been entitled.
“Twelve exotic vehicles were retrieved from Dasuki’s residence having failed to produce evidence of ownership. For instance, what could he be doing with five bullet proof cars as a retired NSA? These cars, which from all available evidence, were purchased with tax payers’ money were being kept for possible sinister enterprise”.
The security agency added that the search operation was not a witch hunt as alleged but that it decided to move in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to be proactive and pre-empt individuals with penchant for impunity and lawlessness from taking the nation back to the dark days.
It further said the lethal arms and vehicles recovered were not reflected in the former NSA’s handover notes.
“What could a former NSA be doing with destructive weapons and bullet proof cars which put together could disrupt the peace of any city in Nigeria for a while?
“On the search of his three properties, including the Sokoto residence, the Service is aware that in his capacity and given his antecedents, he might decide to use any of his residences for such diabolical plans, rather than his main residence”, Opuiyo added.
The service vowed that it would use all constitutional means to deal decisively with those that are bent on breaking the rules governing Nigeria’s peaceful co-existence due to either the huge ill-gotten wealth they have acquired or imaginary hold they think they have on the nation’s survival.