By Moshood Adebayo

 

The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday said it has uncovered weapons, including AK47, 21 house documents and 45 keys of exotic cars hidden in a property in highbrow Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

 The property, which houses a firm, Dunes Investment and Global Properties Limited, according to the DSS, is owned by former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, who was Benue governor from 2007 to 2015.

In a statement by Tony Opuiyo, the DSS said further investigations, based on ‘intelligence,’  revealed that the weapons, luxury items, including designer watches, belonged to Suswam, who has been invited for questioning.

The DSS said the house was searched in the presence of two private security guards of the firm and the items recovered in their presence.   

Said Opuiyo: “The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the public that on February 24, 2017, between 2100 hours and 0242 hours, the Service executed a search warrant, at the property of Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd, located at No 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama-Abuja. 

“The operation was informed by intelligence that some incriminating items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property, particularly a Mercedes Benz S550 (BWR 135AH), and Masarati 4.7 (BWR 207 AJ), which were subsequently confiscated.

“Consequently, on February 25, 2017, about 1000hours, in the presence of two private security officers employed by Dunes Investment, the cars were searched and the following items were recovered: Glock pistol with two magazines and a total of nine rounds of ammunition; mini-Uzi with two magazines containing 10 rounds and four rounds respectively; 42 extra rounds of ammunition contained in a pack; and one AK-47.

“Other items recovered include: 21 Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and one Offer of Statutory Right of  Occupancy; 23 luxury designer watches and 45 keys to various exotic cars.

“Following this discovery, the Service launched further investigation, which revealed that the cars and the recovered items belong to former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, who has already been invited by the Service and presently helping in the investigations. 

“It is in the light of this latest development that the Service wishes to sound a note of warning to persons and groups that it will no longer tolerate any acts of lawlessness by those who ought to be law-abiding and responsible citizens. The Service has also observed with total dismay, inciting utterances of some political actors whose activities are heat up the polity. 

“It also wishes to express its disappointment with these politicians who, in their desperation, are engaged in hate speeches and even sponsor radio campaign jingles when the electoral umpire has not authorised such campaigns, in line with the Electoral Act.

“In line with its statutory mandate of maintaining the peace and internal security of the country, the Service, hereby, restates its commitment to go after anyone, no matter how highly placed, who engages in acts capable of causing the breach of peace in the country.”

In another development,   the DSS in conjunction with the Nigerian Army, has arrested three suspected Chadian Boko Haram terrorists.

Revealing this in a statement, the director of army public relations, Brigadier-General Sani Usman, said the suspects, who belonged to Albaranawi faction of Boko Haram, were  arrested in Gombe, Gombe State. 

He said the suspects were arrested after painstaking effort of tracking, while giving their names as Bilal Muhammed Umar, Bashir Muhammed and Muhammed Maigari Abubakar.

The Army spokesman said the terrorists had travelled to Gombe State to carry out another heinous assignment before they were arrested.

He said: “During the operation, one of them, Bilal Muhammed Umar, attempted to escape and was shot on the leg. He was, however, apprehended and is receiving medical treatment. 

“The terrorists were also arrested with Improvised Explosive Device (IED), materials that they could have coupled and attack parts of the State. 

“The suspects are in custody undergoing preliminary investigation.”