|
The Department of State Services has denied a claim by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that the Service is orchestrating protests in Sokoto State, describing the allegation as a calculated attempt to cast the agency in a bad light and demoralise its operatives.
What exactly did Atiku allege?
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, had alleged that the DSS was sponsoring protests in Sokoto State to disrupt his party's campaign activities, and that a curfew could be declared to frustrate the campaign. The claim drew wide attention because Sokoto has been a theatre of heightened political tension ahead of the 2027 cycle.
How did the DSS respond?
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, signed by Favour Dozie, Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, the Service denied organising or sponsoring any protests in Sokoto. Punch reports that the DSS said it operates strictly within its statutory mandate and would not be drawn into partisan politics.
What does the DSS say actually happened in Sokoto?
According to the statement, DSS operatives in Sokoto on October 31, 2026 intervened when the convoy of Mannir Daniya, the ADC governorship candidate in the state, came under attack, and evacuated him unhurt. The Service said two of its operatives were injured during the incident and are hospitalised. It added that Daniya later contacted the State Director to express appreciation and request additional security coverage for his campaign activities. Vanguard and Daily Trust also carried the Service's account of the October 31 intervention.
Why is Monday Udeme Steven's case in the statement?
The Service also referenced the arrest and ongoing prosecution of one Monday Udeme Steven, who was apprehended on March 2, 2026, in Rivers State over threatening messages against Peter Obi, the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate. The DSS cited the case as evidence that it protects all political actors regardless of party, and rejected any suggestion that it works against opposition figures.
What did the Service say about the investigation?
The statement said the Director General of the DSS has ordered an investigation into the entire episode, in what it described as deference to Atiku's status as an elder statesman. The Service warned, however, that unverified allegations of this kind could demoralise operatives who put their lives on the line, and urged politicians to verify claims with the agency before going public.
What is at stake beyond the row?
The exchange lands at a sensitive moment for civil-military and security-politics relations in the run-up to 2027. Opposition parties have repeatedly accused security agencies of partisanship, while the agencies insist their mandate is professional and apolitical. An investigation ordered by the DG gives both sides a path to evidence, and the outcome will be watched closely by campaigns that will depend on security protection during the election season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Atiku accuse the DSS of?
He alleged the Service was sponsoring protests in Sokoto State to disrupt the ADC's campaign activities and that a curfew could be declared to frustrate the campaign.
Who spoke for the DSS?
Favour Dozie, Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, in a statement on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
What did the DSS say about the Sokoto incident?
It said its operatives evacuated ADC governorship candidate Mannir Daniya unhurt after an attack on October 31, 2026, and that two operatives were injured and hospitalised.
Sources: Punch (Tosin Oyediran), Vanguard (Nwafor), Daily Trust, Tribune, The Nation (Nicholas Kalu).
More politics news: https://www.bhginfodesks.com/search/label/Politics
|
0 Comments