The Department of State Services ( DSS) has said that the search conducted on former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki’s residences was to prevent treasonable felony against the state.
This is contained in a statement issued and signed by one of the service operatives, Mr Tony Opuiyo in Abuja on Sunday.
DSS operatives had on Thursday stormed the houses of the former NSA both in Abuja and Sokoto which led to about 24-hour stand-off between them and soldiers guarding his residence in Abuja.
It said that that some incriminating items were recovered from the houses of the former NSA
The statement said the explanation by the service for searching the residences of Dasuki in Abuja and Sokoto on Thursday was to address criticisms that followed its action.
“The search operations was planned to be simultaneously conducted, but Dasuki, refused the operatives entry into his main residence located at No. 13 John Kadiya Street, Asokoro, Abuja, despite being presented with a genuine and duly signed search warrant.
“Indeed 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, there would have been a clash between the Army operatives guarding the house and the Service operatives,”it said.
It said that Sambo had directed the soldiers on duty not to allow any movement into his house, in spite of the subsisting court order.
The statement said that the search was thoroughly conducted and several items recovered.
Among some incriminating items recovered were seven high calibre rifles, several magazines and military related gears.
“The team also recovered 12 new vehicles, out of which five were bullet-proof,” it said.
It said these vehicles, which it described as exotic, were retrieved from Sambo’s residence having failed to produce evidence of ownership.
The statement said that the lethal arms and the vehicles recovered from Dasuki’s homes were also not reflected in his handover note.
“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,” it said.
The statement said that Dasuki as a retired Colonel, was not entitled to have military guards.
It said that even as NSA, such guards should have been withdrawn after his removal from the post since he would not have been entitled to them.
It debunked insinuations that the raid on Dasuki’s residence was a witch-hunt.
“The service decided to move at this time in line with current management’s resolve to be proactive and pre-empt individuals with penchant for impunity and lawlessness from putting back the nation to the dark days,”it said.
The statement said the DSS would use all constitutional means as defined by its mandate to deal decisively with such unpatriotic individuals.
The service assured Nigerians that the gesture and confidence being expressed would be reciprocated with more dedication and service to the country. ( NAN)
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