The State Security Service, SSS, said on Sunday that a raid conducted in a property allegedly belonging to a former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, ended with the recovery of guns and magazines. The department said it subsequently invited Mr. Suswam who had been “helping in investigations.” In a statement signed by ‘Tony Opuiyo’, the SSS said the property was searched in the exclusive Abuja neighbourhood of Maitama on February 24 between 9:00 p.m. and 2:42 a.m.
Items said to have been recovered from the property included: Glock pistol with two magazines and a total of 29 rounds of ammunition.” The SSS also said “Mini-Uzi with two magazines containing 10 rounds and four rounds respectively; forty-two (42) extra rounds of ammunition contained in a pack; and one AK-47 rifle. Twenty-one Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and one (1) Offer of Statutory Right of Occupancy; 23 luxury designer watches; and 45 keys to various exotic cars were also said to have been recovered from the property.
All the items were recovered from a Mercedes Benz S550 with registration number: BWR 135AH; and a Maserati 4.7 with registration number: BWR 207 AJ. The two vehicles have been confiscated, the SSS said. The SSS said the building is used by a firm named Dunes Investment and Global Properties Ltd., located at 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama, which was later traced to Mr. Suswam. The secret police said the raid was conducted after securing a search warrant.
Mr. Suswam could not be reached for comments. PREMIUM TIMES’ calls to his known telephone number failed to connect Sunday night.
Meanwhile,the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam.
The arrest was made on Sunday after the Service said it uncovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from a property allegedly belonging to the former governor at number 44 Aguiyi Ironsi Way, Maitama-Abuja.
According to a statement by the DSS spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, the operation was informed by intelligence that some incriminating items were stashed in the boots of cars parked at the property.
The DSS said that its officers carried out the raid on the property in the presence of two private security officers employed by the company.
In another development, the DSS warned politicians to desist from making inciting comments that may heat up the system.
“It is in the light of this latest development that the Service wishes to sound a note of warning to persons and groups that it will no longer tolerate any acts of lawlessness by those who ought to be law abiding and responsible citizens. 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 engaged in hate speeches and sponsor of radio campaign jingles when the electoral umpire has not authorised such campaigns in line with the Electoral Act. More worrisome is the unpatriotic involvement of some media outfits in these divisive tendencies which negate their constitutional role as the fourth estate of the realm.
The statement warned: “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,” the statement read.
With reports from The Cable and Channels TV
