DSS won’t be bodyguards to Buhari -ADC

Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lt. Col Abubakar Lawal, has formally written to inform the Department of State Security (DSS) that its personnel would no longer provide close body protection for the president.

They are being replaced with men of the Nigerian Army and Police personnel “who were trained as Presidential Bodyguards.”

Recall that Ripples had reported the move which stated with the rejection of DSS officials that were posted to the Villa earlier. And that others within the Villa had been ordered to leave the premises.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina had denied the move stating, that “President Muhammadu Buhari has given no such order…. The changes being made are routine adjustments which are not unexpected in any dynamic environment from time to time.”

But the President’s ADC confirmed the development in a memo, which listed about seven areas which the military and the police are to take over from the DSS operatives “with immediate effect.”

Some of the areas listed in the memo which are no-go area for men of the DSS were Admin reception/passage; Service Chiefs gate; residence reception, office reception among others.

It, however, noted that “personnel of the DSS in conjunction with other security forces are to man other duty beats/locations within the immediate outer perimeter of the Presidential Villa.”

From 1999 till the recent incidence where DSS operatives were ordered out of the villa, it was the service that provided close body protection and manned sensitive positions within the villa while soldiers and the police manned the outer perimeter of the State House.

Already, the memo appears to have come into effect as only a handful of DSS operatives were seen at the outer perimeter of the Presidential Villa as military men in mufti, yesterday, took over all the other positions inside the Presidential Villa.

Also, within the residence and the office of the President, the DSS body guards who were usually at the gate and the entrance were absent as they were replaced by men of the Nigerian Army who were, however, in mufti.

Some few officers of the DSS were, however, seen under trees discussing in hushed tones as they awaited further directives from their superior officers.

It was learnt that senior officers of the DSS, including the CSO to the President, were trying to resolve the matter amicably.

Ripples… without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now