Operatives of the State Security Service have been directed by the Ministry of Aviation to stay away from all the nation’s international airports.
The order, which was communicated to the SSS leadership a few weeks ago, was said to have shocked the operatives.
It was further gathered that the directive by the ministry, which is headed by Ms Stella Oduah, might affect the ability of the SSS to perform its duties of preventing, detecting, and investigating threats of espionage, subversion, sabotage and terrorist activities, especially at the airports.
Some of the international airports are the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos; the Port Harcourt International Airport, Port Harcourt; the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; and the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
A top security source, who declined to be named because he was not permitted to speak on the matter, confided in one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday, that no reason was given by the ministry for the order.
He said, “We are taking every step to end terrorism in the country by scaling up our intelligence networks and tightening security at all borders and airports, but the aviation ministry, rather than complementing our efforts, is exposing the nation to more risks by withdrawing SSS personnel from all international airports for reasons best known to it.”
There were however indications on Sunday that the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), had been informed about the development.
Our correspondents gathered that the presence of the SSS operatives at airports had foiled many crimes and planned importation of contrabands.
The SSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, could not be reached for comments on Sunday as she did not respond to calls to her mobile telephone line.
She also did not reply a text message sent to her.
The Ministry of Aviation refused to either confirm or deny the withdrawal of the SSS operatives from the airports.
When contacted, the Spokesperson for aviation parastatals, Mr. Yakubu Dati, told one of our correspondents that he would get back to him but never did as of 10pm on Sunday.
Similarly, senior officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, refused to speak on the matter.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation on Media, Mr. Joe Obi, were not successful. Obi terminated calls to his mobile telephone line and also did not reply the text messages sent to him. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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I wonder about the interest and motive of the writer of the article.
ReplyDeleteI feel the cluster of uniformed personnel at out international airports are just alarming.
Removing them does not stop them doing their job unless they have other interest?
Yes o! Who are we to argue or contend, people that are above the law are talking! I don't think anybody in his/her normal self will argue base on this! Ride on Madam since u are alrdy the 3rd Nigerian president now we are awaiting the second President (Madam Okonjo) to ban CBN from all Nigerian financial transaction so as to shut Mr Sanusi mouth finally. Kudos!!
ReplyDeleteMay be they'll import weapons to Nigeria! God bless Nigeria
ReplyDeleteShe just wants to prove to those asking her to go that none of them can move her as long the President does not see anything bad in her reckless spending.
ReplyDeletePity to be told that the present administration is fighting corruption. Do you people remember that UK authorities shamed the leadership of this country when they tried and jailed Ibori after he was cleared of all offences here in Nigeria. Recently, there was another plan to bring him home under the pretest of fighting for Nigerians in UK prisons. Whoever wants to get details can look for those articles on Ibori's case. UK authorities categorically stated that Ibori will not be among inmates to be released to Nigeria because they know the crooks among us will mount pressure on weak government to release him.
Let us keep praying that the Creator of Nigeria save the country from unpatriotic Nigerians.
So that when they want to run away, there will be no SSS to arrest them or maybe when they want to export our 'money' to foreign lands, there will be nobody to disturb them because it is not certain how the pendulum will swing any moment from now till 2015.
ReplyDeleteGod bless u Anon 9:53. What an ill mannered, prejudiced piece of journalism. The writer should have just come out openly 2 tell us he/she is campaigning 4 her removal. Go n bow ur head in shame!
ReplyDeleteIs Odua more corrupt than members of the House of Assembly and the Senate? What was her crime that they bought cars that were approved by people in the budget (recurrent expenditure) the reason why recurrent is so high. If the whole crate of egg is rotten throwing one away won't make an IMPACT. Assessing her performance with what we had previously please be the Judge
ReplyDelete