Kidnapping, banditry: DSS officer testifies against NSCDC officials in court
DSS invitation; Kebbi Vanguard correspondent released unhurt after questioning By Haruna Aliyu- Birnin Kebbi Kebbi state, Vanguard correspondent, mister Haruna Aliyu, who earlier raised the alarm about his safety after receiving invitation from the Kebbi state Command of Department of state services DSS has been released unhurt, unmolested and without threat. Aliyu was invited for enquiries for a squabble between his colleague and their personnel expressed fear over the outcome of the invitation. However, the correspondent who arrived DSS office around twelve noon was accorded human treatment as he was asked to give account of what he knows on the issue between them and his colleague. Mister Aliyu’s Visit to DSS Kebbi Command has opened a window to cement an already existing cordial relationship between media practitioners and unarguably professional security outfit in Nigeria that deeply investigate issues with a view to giving justice to whoever deserves it no matter his placement in the society. The correspondent has pledged to remain good partner of the secret police professionally operating in Nigeria to ensure even protection of lives to all manner of people in the country without molestation or human degradation ” I wish to categorically state here that i have honoured DSS invitation and didnt receive any threat or detention as i earlier raised the alarm over my safety” Speaking further, mister Aliyu stated that he has regretted his actions having misunderstood the rationale behind the invitation which prompted him to raised the alarm before honouring their invitation for enquiries. Mister Aliyu is grateful to Vanguard newspaper,Kebbi area Council of the Nigeria union of journalists NUJ and the correspondent chapel for their intervention.
Mr Stephen Okolo, a Department of State Service (DSS) official, has said that the deployment of technology aided the arrest of three security personnel facing charges of kidnapping and banditry in Oyo State.
Okolo said this in his testimony before Justice N.E. Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, on Monday.
He was giving evidence as first prosecution witness (PW1) in the trial against the three officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and one other.
The three NSCDC’s officers are, Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale and Asmau Omar while the fourth defendant, Emmanuel Olatunji, is an unlicensed arms dealer.
“My lord, following the increase in the cases of kidnapping and banditry in Okeogun area of Oyo State and parts of Kwara, the DSS fashioned out how to address the issue by deploying our technical expertise, that is equipment.
“With sustained surveillance, we were able to detect, trace, and arrest the criminals involved.
“My lord, two kingpins; one Baguda and the other Banshile, who were the most dangerous terrorists operating in that axis were identified in the process.
“The operation which led to the arrest of one Lawan Buhari, and one of the NSCDC’s officials believed to be supplying ammunitions to the terrorists commenced in January 2023.
“Further operation led to the arrest of the other three defendants; Okesola, Olatunji and Adewale,” Okolo told the court.
The PW1 tendered before the court, a bag containing 1000 rounds of live ammunition as an exhibit collected from Buhari,.
He said the command was able to break the chain of supply of ammunition to terrorists, which reduced the high rate of kidnapping and banditry in the areas.
In his own testimony, Lawan Buhari, the PW2, said that he received thousands of naira supplying AK47 guns and bullets to the defendants who sent same to their terror links.
“Before I was apprehended and detained at the 81 battalion barrack at Mokola, I was serving with the Operation Burst security outfit where the trio approached me to start supplying them arms,” Buhari said.
The DSS prosecution Counsel, Mr T.A. Nurudeen told the court that the defendants were arraigned on a 15-count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, terrorism, unlawful arms dealing, aiding and abetting terrorism.
The four defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Maha adjourned the suit until Feb. 11 for continuation of trial.
