Operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) Monday arrested scores of suspects during a raid of uncompleted buildings in Abuja.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that top officers and men of the Service embarked on the operation hours ahead of the country’s 53rd independence day anniversary.
President Goodluck Jonathan had during a media chat aired Sunday night hinted that his administration might change its security strategy to combat the rising wave of terrorism in the country.
A source offered that the operation was to forestall what he described as “an embarrassing security breach” during the celebrations.
Most of the arrestees, a top source in the service offered, were persons who could not justify their presence in the uncompleted buildings.
“I tell you, most of them were people. arrested are from the far North, who could only speak Hausa. We are going to interrogate them. Any of them whose presence cannot be readily justified would undergo further interviews,” the source told Pointblanknews.com.
Another source offered that the service did not want to be taken unawares by terrorists who may have infiltrated Abuja under the guise of being artisans.
“It is not impossible that some of these terrorists causing havoc in the North east may have slipped into Abuja and lurking in uncompleted buildings. Whoever is innocent shall be released at the end of investigations,” he added.
About a week ago, security officials reportedly acting on a tip-off on the presence of Boko Haram terrorists, stormed an uncompleted building In Apo district of Abuja. At least seven people were killed in the raid, with several others injured.
The raid has since become a subject of controversy, with several human and civil right groups alleging extra-judicial killings of innocent people.
On October 1, 2010, terrorists detonated two car bombs close to Eagle Square, official venue of the independence day celebrations.
At least 12 people were killed in the blast, with 17 others wounded.
Former leader of Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah was in January convicted by a South African court for the bombings. He is currently serving a 24- year sentence in the country.