The Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to President Muhammadu Buhari has formally informed the Department of State Services (DSS) that its personnel would no longer provide close body protection for the President as they are being replaced with men of the Nigerian Army and Police personnel “who were trained as Presidential Bodyguards”, reports Vanguard.
Following earlier reports about the development, the presidency had through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina said Buhari gave no such order.
“While it is true that a reorganization of security at the Presidential Villa which involves the realignment of personnel from various services is underway, the exercise does not translate to the expulsion of DSS personnel from the premises in any way. The changes being made are routine adjustments which are not unexpected in any dynamic environment from time to time,” Adesina had said.
However, in a memo cited by Vanguard, said to have been written by the President’s ADC, it was stated that DSS personnel have been withdrawn from close body protection of the President and are being replaced by members of the Nigerian Army and the Police, adding that he was acting “sequel to directives.”
The memo listed about seven areas which the military and the police are to take over from the DSS operatives “with immediate effect.” These include the Admin reception/passage; Service Chiefs gate; residence reception, office reception among others.
“Personnel of the DSS in conjunction with other security forces are to man other duty beats/locations within the immediate outer perimeter of the Presidential Villa,” the memo added.
Since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, close body protection and securing of sensitive positions had been done by the DSS and the outer perimeter manned by soldiers and policemen. This has now changed, according to the new directive.
The post Buhari’s ADC Confirms Replacement Of DSS Officers With Soldiers appeared first on INFORMATION NIGERIA.
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