Director-General, State Security Service, Mr. Ekpenyong Ita
Officials of the Department of State Services attached to the Presidential Villa, Abuja were on Wednesday ordered out of the premises.
The officials belong to the Body Guard Unit of the DSS and had been working in the Presidential Villa since the days of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
THE PUNCH had reported exclusively that there were moves to replace the operatives with men of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.
The situation, it had also been reported exclusively by this newspaper, led to the rejection of about 253 new operatives of the DSS recently redeployed from the service’s various state commands to the Presidential Villa.
Our correspondent learnt that trouble started for the DSS operatives on Wednesday when a security aide of President Muhammadu Buhari went round offices in the evening to chase the DSS officials out.
He was reported to have said that a directive had been given that they should no longer be allowed access into the premises.
Some of the affected officials who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of anonymity expressed shock over the development.
They however said they would still resume at their beat on Thursday (today) except they receive a contrary directive from their headquarters.
“We were asked to leave the premises or risk arrest. As I am talking to you now, some of us are gathering under the trees while some others have left.
“It is surprising but we have no choice than to resume here again tomorrow (today) and see what will happen.
“The only reason why we may not come here is if we receive any other directive from our headquarters,” one of the officials told our correspondent on the telephone.
But the Presidency in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari had not given any order for the expulsion of DSS officials from the Presidential Villa.
The statement read, “Rumours that personnel of the Department of State Services have been expelled from the Presidential Villa are unfounded.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has given no such order.
“While it is true that a reorganisation of security at the Presidential Villa which involves the realignment of personnel from various services is underway, the exercise does not translate to the expulsion of DSS personnel from the premises in any way.
“The changes being made are routine adjustments which are not unexpected in any dynamic environment from time to time.”
Punch
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