No fewer than 30 persons were killed this morning when Boko Haram insurgents attempted to seize the national headquarters of the Department of State Security, otherwise known as State Security Service (SSS).
Latest report on the incident said that a large number of the casualties are believed to be members of Boko Haram. No fewer than 100 members of the Boko Haram sect are detained in the SSS facility.
Report had it that attempt to seize control of the SSS headquarters led to a heavy gun battle that began at about 8am and didn’t end until about 11.30am.
The SSS headquarters is less than 100 metres from the Aso Presidential Villa, the offices and residences of President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo, none of whom was in the Villa at the time of the attack.
Earlier report today had attributed the gunfire that shoot Presidential Villa to attempt jail break by members of the sect.
The vicinity of the Villa has since been barricaded as guns boomed with Armoured Personnel Carriers.
The DSS spokesperson Marilyn Ogar had said earlier that the gunfire occurred from an attempt by some detained Boko Haram suspects to break jail.
“What happened was that the suspects’ handlers went to feed the detainees here but suddenly they attacked him with their handcuffs, disarmed him and started shooting.
“The military was quickly called in before they could do any harm and that is responsible for the shootings you heard.
“It was an attempted jailbreak but it has been brought under control.”
Ogar’s full statement reads thus.
At 0715 hours, the Service suspect handler went to the detention facility within the Headquarters to feed the suspects. One of the suspects attempted to disarm him by hitting him at the back of his head with his handcuff. His attempt to escape drew the attention of other guards at the facility who fired some shots to warn and deter others.
2.The gun shots attracted the attention of the military with whom we have an understanding of mutual assistance in the event of any threat. The Army immediately deployed a team to reinforce our perimeter guards to forestall any external collaborators. The situation has since been brought under control.
3.Further details will be communicated.
Marilyn OGAR, msi
Deputy Director, Public Relations
Department of State Services
30th March, 2014
