DSS, Army Arrest Personnel In N310m Robbery

The Department of State Services (DSS) said yesterday that it has arrested two out of its five personnel said to have carried out a robbery operation in which a Bureau De Change operator was robbed of N310 million.
Similarly, the military authority also said it has arrested one Capt. Hussein Ishaku Mshelia, who was said to have led four other colleagues in the robbery operation.
The robbery operation, which was executed in Abuja on November 20, was jointly carried out by five DSS operatives and five military personnel.
In a statement by one Mr. Tony Opuiyo, the Service revealed that N66.4 million of the total amount has so far been recovered, even as it said that efforts were being intensified to recover the total amount.
The statement gave names of the affected personnel as Abdulrasheed Ahmadu Maigari, Solomon Inusa, Peter Okoye, Patrick Ishaya and George Mwatapwa Ibbi.
While Maigari and Ibbi have since been arrested, the secret police said it has launched an aggressive manhunt to apprehend the other three, said to be at large.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to inform the general public that the Service has arrested two out of five of its staff involved in the robbery and sharing, on November 20, 2015, of N310 million belonging to a Bureau De Change operator in Abuja.
“While three of the DSS staff are now at large, the military authorities have commenced a detailed investigation of five of its personnel involved in the crime.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that Abdulrasheed Ahmadu Maigari of the DSS conspired with four other colleagues of his namely: Solomon Inusa, Peter Okoye, Patrick Ishaya and George Mwatapwa Ibbi, to carry out this reprehensible act. The five military personnel were led by one Capt. Hussein Ishaku Mshelia.
“The Service has arrested Maigari and Ibbi; and Mshelia equally arrested by the Army authorities.
“Efforts are on-going to apprehend those still at large. A total of N66,437,445 and $6,200 have so far been recovered, while efforts are being made to recover the remaining amounts,” the DSS said.
It added that the on-going investigation is being carried out by a joint team comprising the Army, Police as well as the Service.
The statement noted that the action of the Service is in line with the posture of the current administration and DSS management’s focus on professionalism, transparency and accountability.
While noting that the two operatives arrested have since been suspended pending conclusion of investigation, the statement added: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Service wants to reiterate its commitment to the basic ideals and principles as established by its forebears and will not spare anyone found to be contravening the rules and regulations or the laws of the land.
“We therefore encourage members of the public with useful information that could lead to the arrest of those at large to volunteer same to the Service or other security agency.”

Advertisements