Terror Alert: “We Had No Joint Operation With The US Army” – DSS

By Adesina Soyooye

The Department of State Services, DSS, has debunked the report that it carried out a joint operation with US soldiers in Abuja on Wednesday.

On Thursday, a report had gone viral that the DSS, in conjunction with American soldiers, raided an Estate in Abuja, Trademore, where they discovered boxes of ammunition in an apartment as well as guns. The report also said bombs were discovered and a couple of arrests, it was made.

The raid followed an alleged imminent terrorist attack on Abuja raised by the United States Embassy in Nigeria. The Embassy followed up with an evacuation of its non-essential staff and their families from Abuja.

However, while the DSS confirmed the raid in a statement on Friday, it debunked the version that it was in conjunction with any foreign soldiers. The Service said it carried out the operation with the Nigerian Military. It also said no bombs were recovered and no arrests were made in the Estate.

The  statement signed by the DSS Spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said: “It is true that an operation was carried out by DSS Operatives, and the Nigerian  Military, but no foreign Military Personnel was involved.

“It is not true that any bomb was recovered or anyone arrested during the operation in the said estate.”

The alert raised by the US Embassy, as well as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australian Missions in Nigeria, sent panic amongst the residents of Abuja, and a quick review of the security situation within the FCT.

Already, a number of public and private places, including schools, are scaling down activities or shutting down.

On Thursday, one of the biggest Malls in Abuja, Jabi Lake Mall, in the Jabi area of Abuja, shut down until further notice over the security alert.