Nigeria refutes claims of videos on former secret police chief

LAGOS, Aug. 14 — The Nigerian government on Monday refuted claims that operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) allegedly recovered money and dangerous weapons from the residence of sacked director general of the DSS.
The videos in circulation on the alleged recovery of items from the house of Lawal Duara were fake, Tony Opuiyo, a spokesperson for the secret police, said in a statement reaching Xinhua.
The items allegedly recovered included 400 assorted and sophisticated small arms and light weapons or rifles and thousands of Permanent Voters Card (PVCs) belonging to Niger Republic immigrants.
“So far, no such recovery operations have been undertaken by the anti graft police or any other security agency at DSS office or residences of the former Director-General,” the spokesperson added.
In another video also in circulation, some persons believed to be personnel of a security outfit were seen forcing open safes stocked with money.
The security operatives were said to be executing a recovery operation at the northwest Katsina home of the former DSS boss.
Opuiyo said different interests had continued to give varied accounts of last week’s incident at the national assembly.
He said the presidency had pledged to carry out a detailed investigation regarding the blockade of the national assembly.
The former secret police chief was sacked by acting president Yemi Osinbajo for ordering the unauthorized blockade of the national assembly last week. – XINHUA