TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the fixation of the Department of State Services’ (DSS) on chasing political opponents has made it ineffective in gathering intelligence needed to stop Boko Haram, hence the frequent bombings.

Calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to overhaul the service, the party blamed the bombings on dereliction of duty on the part of the DSS.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) notes with deep sadness and concern, the resurgence of terrorism and renewed attacks on the Federal Capital Territory, with last Friday’s bombings in Nyanya and Kuje satellite towns of the territory,” Uche Secondus, acting national chairman of the PDP, said on Monday.

“That the Abuja coordinated attacks came just as the nation was already celebrating the success of our security forces in their efforts to rout terrorists, indicates either a fact of dereliction of duty or sabotage against the anti-terrorism fight.

“Whereas we have remained steadfast in our commitment to support each and every policy adopted by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari aimed at ending terrorism, especially knowing the importance of secured environment in achieving peaceful co-existence, an imperative for development.

“And whereas we are aware that a bomb is an ill-wind that blows no good to anybody in the community, scaring away potential investors, we are therefore duty bound to draw attention to certain grave factors, possibly leading to the unfortunate resurgence, which, if unchecked could worsen the ugly situation.”

Secondus further said that poor intelligence gathering by the DSS, and other relevant intelligence group was largely, “if not directly responsible for the resurgence of terrorists, who have earlier been pushed to the precipices in the Sambisa forest in Borno state, to the extent that they have slipped back into other cities, including the nation’s capital.”

“From all indications, the DSS under the watch of the current director- general, Alhaji Lawal Daura, does not seem to be in full grip of the intelligence situation,” he said.

“This is apparently traceable to the avoidable distractions occasioned by the flagrant use of the agency for political assignments since the emergence of the new director-general, in addition to the apparent administrative disharmony within the service, all resulting in the erosion of professionalism, harmony and loyalty among personnel.

“In the last few months, the DSS, instead of concentrating on its primary statutory duties of providing domestic intelligence, security service and criminal investigations for the state, has, under the new director-general, directed all its energies on political matters; chasing after opposition elements, interfering in election tribunal activities, intimidating and hounding tribunal witnesses, while terrorists resurge, and combatant security forces left with scanty intelligence.

“The situation with the DSS has become so pathetic that it could not even effectively analyse reported suspicious tweets ‘predicting the attacks’ as a cue to forestall last Friday’s attack in Abuja and other parts of the country.

“Indeed, our nation cannot afford a retrogression from the gains already made in the fight against terrorism due to the failure of a disorganised, improperly coordinated and distracted intelligence agency, that is not able to live up to its billing.

“It is on this note therefore that we urge President Buhari as a matter of urgency to take a critical look at the situation in the DSS, overhaul its management, administration and operations to ensure that the required leadership and spirit needed to operate optimally exist in the agency.”