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.
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