Aso Villa Authorities Reject 253 DSS Officials

Apparently still not sure of the shape security
around President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo will take in the coming
days, authorities of the Presidential Villa, Abuja
have rejected about 253 officials of the
Department of State Services recently transferred
to the Presidential Villa.
Investigations by one of our correspondents on
Wednesday revealed that the affected security
operatives were deployed from different state
commands of the DSS across the country.
According to their redeployment signals that
emanated from the service’s National
Headquarters, the officers were directed to
report at the Presidential Villa last week Monday.
The PUNCH further learnt that the officials,
armed with signals showing specifically where they
would man in the Presidential Villa, were however
turned back on arrival.
They were said to have been directed to ensure
that they return to their respective former duty
posts across the country the following day (last
week Tuesday).
One of the affected officials, who was transferred
from one of the states in the South-West, told one
of our correspondents on the condition of
anonymity that all of them were left to their fate
without any transfer allowance.
He said, “The about 253 of us were redeployed
from commands from across the country to the
State House, Abuja. Our signals, which were sent
from the headquarters, showed specifically where
we are expected to work in the Presidential Villa.
“Some of us were asked to report to the Vice
President’s office, some were attached to the
President’s wife while some others were attached
to the Vice President’s wife among other beats in
the Villa.
“We were however turned back and were asked to
resume back at our former duty posts the following
day or risk sanction.”
The source said while their deployment to the
Presidential Villa was conveyed through signals, no
other signal was issued when they were directed to
return to base.
He said among the 253 of them, only one official
was asked by the headquarters to return to the
Villa.
The only official was said to be the security
orderly of one of the service’s senior officials in
Abuja before he was transferred.
The source added that although no official reason
was given for their rejection, they were told
unofficially that the decision was necessary because
Buhari and Osinbajo had yet to move into the Villa.
He also said another reason adduced was the issue
of some officials of the Nigerian Army Intelligence
Corps who were recently moved into the State
House and could be taking up the responsibilities of
the DSS officials.
When contacted, the DSS Deputy Director, Public
Relations, Marilyn Ogar, said she could not
comment on the issue.
“I don’t have such information and I cannot
comment on it please,” she stated.
Another security source confirmed to our
correspondent that 253 officials deployed from
across the country were truly directed to return
to their commands.
He however said, to the best of his knowledge, the
affected officials were initially directed to report
to the headquarters and not the State House
directly.
The source who was affected however insisted that
his own signal indicated where exactly he should
report to inside the Presidential Villa and not the
service’s headquarters.