DSS Say Foiled Boko Haram’s Prison Break Is Being Politicised By Media

The Department of State Service in Nigeria are concerned with Nigerian media “politicising” Sunday’s incident at its detention facility in Abuja. It will be recalled that there was an attempted jailbreak at the Service’s headquarters by suspected members of Boko Haram sect.

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Marilyn Ogar, Deputy Director of Public Relations at Department of State Service, says she is worried over unconfirmed publications made in social media.

During her Monday’s interview with Channels Television, Ogar lamented that some issues should not be politicised. She expressed worry that our children are growing up in the world with multiple conflicting versions of one of the same event.

She stressed that the proximity of the the office of the State Security Service to the Presidential Villa does not automatically mean lack of security issues. However, she noted, people shold be careful while sending out the news to the international community, and yesterday’s screaming headlines of the SSS office being invaded left a bad impression.

She cautioned not to disseminate nconfirmed information, saying that the social media are meant to educate people, not to make them believe in lies. She said Nigerian media representatives should try not to repeat the mistakes of the past and be careful with the kinds of information they push out to the ordinary Nigerians.

The incident, as told by the DSS official

Ogar explained that the suspects planned to break away on Sunday because they knew that fewer officials would be present. At 7:15 a.m., a handler went in to give the inmates their morning meal. As he was about to leave, he was hit on the head with handcuffs of one of the inmates and fell on the ground. The suspect took his gun. The weapon of an SSS officer carries 90 rounds of ammunition, and when the suspect took hold of the gun, he started firing sporadically.

Ogar says the security forces along with the SSS officers were able to bring the fleeing inmates back. The inmates, Ogar stressed, did not succeed in breaking through the security system. The place was cordoned off and the 16 inmates who managed to get out of the premises were brought back. Ogar added that eight suspects refused to participate in the “operation,” as they were sure the successful outcome is impossible.

21 insurgents were shot to death, while two officials were seriously injured. The officers were relucant to shoot at people at first, firing warning shots into the air. The deceased suspects were killed after refusing to surrender.

Ogar said that investigations were ongoing to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

1 COMMENT

  1. I just didn’t get this!and I am not a media person.according to Mrs Ogar”the 16 inmates that manage to flee from d premises were brought back.and 8 of d insurgents has refused to participate in d planned Jailbreak” making a total of 16+8=24?and yet 21 insurgents were killed?so is it d 16 that were brought back plus 4 of those that refused to participate that were killed? Not that I Like them or care about them just wondering.