21 killed as military battles Boko Haram at SSS HQ •Villa not under attack –Presidency •Military helicopters in air surveillance •Security beefed up at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Force HQ, Defence ministry

THERE was confusion in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the early hours of Sunday, as heavy gunfire rented the air inside the headquarters of the Directorate of the State Security Service (DSS), opposite the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, following an attempted jail break by the detained members of the defiant Islamist extremists, known as Boko Haram.


A combined team of operatives of the DSS and men of the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army, however, foiled the attempted jailbreak, while 21 of the suspected insurgents were reportedly killed and several others wounded, including some of the security operatives.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that following the confusion that ensued, all the gates of the Presidential Villa, DSS headquarters and roads in the Three Arms Zone were shut to human and vehicular movements, while armoured personnel carriers (APCs) were rolled out and military helicopters dispatched to the air for surveillance.
Security in the area and the entire capital city were also beefed up, as signals were reportedly sent to the residents of the Asokoro area to stay indoors while the confusion lasted, with armed security operatives embarking on search of the areas and the neighbourhoods.
Spokesperson of the DSS, Marilyn Ogar, in a statement made available to newsmen, dismissed fears of an external attack, but said some suspects within its detention facility tried to escape, having attacked one of its operatives.
She said gunshots from outside were those of soldiers trying to ward off any possible external collaborators, while she described the situation as an attempted jailbreak, saying it had been brought under control.
The Service said at about 7.15 a.m, an operative went to the detention facility within the headquarters to feed the suspects and “one of them attempted to disarm him by hitting him at the back of his head with his handcuff.”
According to her, the attempt to escape drew the attention of other guards at the facility, who fired some shots to warn and deter others.
She added that the gunshots attracted the attention of the military, with whom the DSS had an understanding of mutual assistance in the event of any threat.

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“The army immediately deployed a team to reinforce our perimeter guards so as to forestall any external collaborators. The situation has since been brought under control,” she added.
Meanwhile, normalcy has retuned to the FCT as normal activities which were paralysed earlier in the day had resumed in full swing.
Villa not under attack –Presidency
THE Presidential Villa was calm on Sunday morning, even as reports intensified that military forces were involved in a battle to contain an attempted jailbreak staged by some detained suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
A visit to the Villa at about 12 noon showed that there was nothing unusual to suggest that the presidency was in a state of heightened security alert, as there was no noticeable increase in security presence around the area.
Security at the main gate adjacent to the Asokoro branch of the Nigerian Fire Service was normal, as there were about three SSS personnel who checked the identities of visitors before they were allowed to have access into the premises.
The SSS personnel were supported by about four armed soldiers who stood about 100 metres away from the checking point, ready to deal with any breach of security.
However, this was a normal occurence, as it was the same formation at the gate on a daily basis.
It was gathered that the normal Sunday service at the Aso Chapel, inside the Presidential Villa, held unhindered with full congregation.
Similarly, civilians resident around the Presidential Villa were also allowed to move in and out of their premises without let or hinderance.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, when reached by the Nigerian Tribune, said the Villa was not attacked, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan was safe.
Abati said the reason people linked the incident at the SSS headquarters to the Villa was because of the proximity of the seat of power to the SSS headquarters, assuring that there was no cause for alarm.
“The situation was immediately brought under control. Nobody escaped, those who tried to escape were immediately rearrested. That was it,” he added.
The Presidential spokesman had earlier taken to Twitter to assure his followers that all was well in the presidency.
In a posting, he said “what happened at the SSS HQ this morning was an attempted jailbreak which has been effectively foiled.
There is no cause for alarm.”
Abati, in another posting, said “what happened at the SSS HQ has nothing to do with the Villa. President Jonathan is safe and well. Thank you for your concern and support.”
Security beefed up at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Force HQ, Defence ministry
Security was beefed up on Sunday at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, venue of ongoing seventh meeting of African Finance Ministers and other strategic locations in the FCT.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) covering the African ministers’ meeting observed that additional security personnel had been deployed in the hotel.
The additional armed men, seen within the vicinity of the hotel, included soldiers, police and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The armed men were supported by sniffer dogs as they took positions within and outside the hotel.
Security was also beefed up in and around military and other security offices in Abuja on Sunday, following the attempted jailbreak.
On the Shehu Shagari Road, where the Force Headquarters is located, the area had been barricaded with APCs, same for the Ministry of Defence, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, at the time filing this report.
Also, all the roads leading to the DSS headquarters, Aso Drive, had been closed.


source: tribune.com.ng