DSS Operatives Assault Two Senior National Assembly Staff Over Identification Dispute

In the early hours of Friday, two senior staff members of the National Assembly were reportedly brutalized by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly failing to properly identify themselves at the second gate of the Complex.

The staff members, Chris Odoh, a Deputy Director, and John Nnadi, of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), encountered difficulties with the DSS operatives who have been assigned to secure the entire National Assembly Complex.

The incident occurred around 11:45 am when the staff were asked to present their identification at the gate.

According to reports, the DSS officers claimed that the staff merely “flashed their identity cards” and did not properly identify themselves.

When the staff attempted to proceed to their offices at the White House section of the National Assembly Complex, the operatives forcefully blocked their way.

An altercation ensued, during which the National Assembly staff were assaulted by the security operatives, while other workers looked on helplessly.

Efforts by passersby to mediate the situation reportedly aggravated the DSS operatives, who were soon joined by four colleagues and began rough handling the staff and others attempting to intervene.

The operatives dragged the two staff members from the linking point, a distance of about 125 meters.

The incident drew sympathy from staff of Unity Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, and journalists in the Senate Press Centre, all of whom have offices in the area.

Outraged by the incident, National Assembly staff from various offices at the White House, including the Mace Bearer in the Senate, gathered in front of the DSS office to demand the immediate release of the two staff members.

The situation was eventually calmed by the intervention of Alex Annagu, the Divisional Police Officer of the National Assembly, and Mrs. Ilobah Isabella, the Deputy Clerk of the Senate, Legislative, who appealed to the workers to return to their offices.

In the midst of the crisis, John Nnadi emerged from the DSS office and began shouting solidarity songs, which were immediately echoed by other workers.

Chanting “We no go gree o, we no go gree,” the irate staff marched to the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly to register their grievances.

However, the Clerk had not yet arrived, and the DPO managed to disperse the crowd by appealing for calm.

In the past two weeks, the management of the National Assembly has replaced its official security arm, Sergeant-at-Arms, who are familiar with the staff, legislative aides, and other personnel, with DSS operatives.

This change has reportedly led to daily altercations between the new security personnel and those accessing the Complex.