NANS Convention: How DSS nabbed alleged cultists behind shootings
BY BARTH EZE
The Department of State Security Service, DSS, on November 30, arrested five alleged members of a cult for planning the disruption of the convention by the National Association of Nigerian Student NANS.
The suspects were on their way to the students’ convention with sophisticated firearms but were promptly intercepted by security operatives ffrom the DSS who handed them over to the police.
The suspects are Adeniran Femi, Ishaya Christopher, Obigi Emeka, Fatokun Ayodele and Abdullahi Saliu.
Exhibits recovered from them include a pump action gun, one locally made double barrel shotgun, two locally made pistols, one Beretta pistol, 15 live ammunitions, cartridges, an axe, 12 cutlasses, mobile phones, bag containing uniforms of security agencies and a Mazda car with Reg No. RBC909DP, bearing some of the exhibits.
Federal Capital Territory Police, FCT, Abuja said Investigation is being intensified while efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects still at large.
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CP Haruna G. Garba, warned against any form of disturbance of public peace, unlawful assembly, and criminal infiltration of lawful assembly within the FCT.
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He said the suspects would be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.
The CP said the arrest of five suspects was in connection with the attempted infiltration of the 30th November, 2023 NANS’ convention.
Meanwhile, the CP assured residents of the unflinching commitment of the command to ensuring and safeguarding public order, safety and security in the FCT.
He further urged residents to keep up with prompt rendition of distress calls or complaints to the Police through the following emergency lines:
08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883.PCB. 090222223527.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement on December 6, confirmed that five were in police custody for planned disruption of the Convention.
Last week Friday, the National Hospital turned to a battle field as students were matcheted on their hospital beds after gunmen stormed the hospital in an attempt to kill the presumed winner of the students’ election.
The Old Parade Ground, venue of the national convention of the National Association of Nigerian Students had turned bloody after heavy shootings rented the air.
It was gathered that the shootings started on Thursday continued till Friday at the venue of the convention, which is a few distance away from the Defense Headquarters, Abuja.
Our correspondent gathered that officials of the convention, and the planning committee members including students and delegates sustained wounds from the gunshots and machetes after thugs loyal to a candidate began attacking opposition delegates.
Videos trending on social media showed students scampering for safety during the heavy shooting.
Saturday Times learned that security agencies deployed for the election took to their heels when the shootings became too much until the reinforcement which brought to an end by security agencies.
Meanwhile, a health worker at the National Hospital told our correspondent that some of the injured delegates were brought to the hospital to receive treatment but the rival gang followed them to the hospital, where they finished their dirty job before leaving the hospital.
The worker said doctors and nurses on duty scampered for safety and ran for their lives and went into hiding in their offices and abandoned their patients.
It was gathered that some of the students were stabbed several on their hospital beds leading to bleeding.
The worker said the hospital complex was into pandemonium adding that many were injured.
Trouble started at the hospital when the faction traced the other faction loyal to the group who were losing the election invaded the venue and attacked the officials conducting the election and their opponents.
After, they were said to have moved to the hospital in search of the factions winning the election and traced them to the National Hospital, were another battle took place.
According to him, the delegates for the convention, who have been in Abuja since Sunday, are presently meeting in an undisclosed location to determine the next line of action.
NANS, the umbrella body of students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, is expected to elect a new set of national leaders.
The students body had zoned the position of president of NANS to Zone B (South-south) with Pendro Obi Chibuzor, a PhD student from Delta State University and Lucky Omonefe as the leaders
According to a student who spoke to our correspondent, the newly elected leaders were expected to replace Usman Barambo who had served his term as NANS president.
