The Department of State Services, on Sunday, said it had
recovered some weapons and 21 Certificates of Occupancy among others from two
cars on the premises of a company, Dunes Investment and Global Properties
Limited, Abuja.
The DSS, in a statement in Abuja by an official, Tony
Opuiyo, alleged that the Cs of O,
weapons and other recovered items belonged to a former Governor of Benue
State, Mr. Gabriel Suswan.
All attempts to speak with Suswam proved abortive as his
telephone indicated that it was switched off while a text message, which was
delivered to his telephone, had yet to be responded to as of press time on
Sunday.
The PUNCH learnt that Suswan, who honoured the DSS
invitation on Sunday, was still being detained as of the time of sending this
report on Sunday night.
The DSS said it executed a search warrant on the company,
which is located at 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, Abuja, between 9pm on
Saturday, February 25 and 2.42am on Sunday.
According to the DSS, no fewer than a total of 85 rounds of
ammunition, one Glock pistol; one mini-uzi, a Submachine Gun, and one AK-47
rifle were recovered from the two cars on the premises.
Other items recovered from the premises, according to the
security agency, include 23 luxury designer watches and 45 keys to various
exotic cars.
It stated, “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 135 AH), and Masarati 4.7 (BWR
207 AJ), which were subsequently confiscated.”
The DSS said at 10pm on Saturday, in the presence of two
private security officers employed by Dunes Investment, the cars were searched.
It added, “The following items were recovered:
(i) Glock pistol with two magazines and a total of 29 rounds
of ammunition
(ii) Mini-Uzi with two magazines containing 10 rounds and
four rounds respectively;
(iii) Forty-two extra rounds of ammunition contained in a
pack and
(iv) One AK-47.”
The DSS added that it also seized 21 Certificates of
Occupancy and one offer of statutory right of occupancy.
It stated, “Following this discovery, the service launched
further investigation, which revealed that the cars and the recovered items
belong to the former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, who has already
been invited by the service and presently helping in the investigations.”
The DSS warned persons and groups that it would “no longer
tolerate any acts of lawlessness by those who ought to be law-abiding and
responsible citizens.”
It warned politicians against hate speeches, saying it would
get tough with those heating up the polity.
“The service has also observed with total dismay the
inciting utterances of some political actors whose activities heat up the
polity.
“It also wishes to express its disappointment with these
politicians who, in their desperation, are engaging in hate speeches and even
sponsorship of radio campaign jingles when the electoral umpire has not
authorised such campaigns in line with the Electoral Act,” the agency stressed.
The DSS also expressed concern with what it called “the
unpatriotic involvement of some media outfits in these divisive tendencies
which negate their constitutional role as the fourth estate of the realm.”
It added, “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.”
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