By Seyi Odewale
A retired senior military officer, Brig-Gen Bamidele Akintola, has picked holes in the way the Department of State Services (DSS) handled the advice given last week to lawmakers and Nigerians on their security during the festive period, saying the DSS was not to be heard or seen as it remained secret police.
Last week, the DSS advised members of the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, and the public/private sector workers going on vacation to be wary of criminal elements such as armed gangs, kidnappers, and bandits, who may prey on them during the festive period for some ransom, as they are more susceptible to threats of various degrees.
According to him, it was unfortunate that the DSS, which is supposed to be a secret service, is now vying for attention instead of staying in the background.
“The unfortunate thing there is that the DSS is supposed to be what many refer to as the secret police, but it’s like they too are hugging the limelight now instead of staying in the background. That advice given by the DSS, for me, should have been given by the police; the Inspector-General of Police, not the DSS coming into the open.
“Just a few days ago, I saw a report where the DSS, the Military, and the police undertook a joint operation to arrest some people. Surprisingly, it was the DSS guy that came out to brief the press. And in any case, it was not supposed to be,” he said.
In a chat with ThisNigeria at the weekend, the retired Intelligence General said the security situation was not new, adding that the country has been experiencing it for some time.
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“We have been in this situation for quite some time now. And, of course, for some time now, we have had cases of politicians, legislators being attacked and kidnapped, and so on. But then, it appeared as if in the last few weeks, about two or three weeks ago, we had cases of such happenings in Kaduna, Katsina and along the Kaduna-Abuja Road, and other places in the north,” he said.
