ARUKAINO UMUKORO writes that the failed jailbreak by Boko Haram detainees at the Department of State Security Headquarters, Abuja, last Sunday has raised questions about the invincibility of the SSS
The events that transpired on Sunday morning close to Nigeria’s seat of power were like scenes from a blockbuster Hollywood movie. But they were not.
That day, the State Security Services Headquarters in Asokoro, Abuja, also known as Yellow House, almost fell, as it came under heavy gunfire after some Boko Haram suspects detained there attempted a jailbreak.
It took over two hours of heavy gun duel before the attempt was foiled by operatives of the SSS with air and land backup from the military.
The attempted jailbreak started when a feeding routine reportedly went awry in the detention facility within the headquarters. According to the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the SSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, at 07.15 hours, one of the suspects tried to disarm one of the operatives by hitting him at the back of his head with his handcuff.
“His attempt to escape drew the attention of other guards at the facility that fired shots to warn and deter others. The gunshots attracted the attention of the military with which we have an understanding of mutual assistance in the event of any threat.
“The army immediately deployed a team to reinforce our perimeter guards to forestall any external collaborators. The situation has since been brought under control. Further details will be communicated,” Ogar’s first statement read.
There is another version of Ogar’s explanation. There are talks in security circles that one of detainees pretended to be ill and summoned an operative, telling him that he needed some medications. As the operative entered the cell and attempted to handcuff him with the intention of taking him to the in-house clinic, the Boko Haram suspect and others in the cell, were said to have hit the operative, retrieved his rifle and pistol which were loaded with about 50 rounds of ammunition and shot him. The suspects then ran towards the gate chanting victory songs.
Though Ogar noted that the situation was brought under control with 21 suspects killed and two SSS men injured, inside sources told SUNDAY PUNCH that about eight operatives died in the duel with the suspects while all Boko Haram suspects who ran out of their cells were shot dead that morning.
Curiously, the attempted jailbreak occurred weeks after a top commander of Boko Haram was arrested in Mandara Mountains located along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. The Boko Haram top shot was subsequently detained in Abuja, our correspondent learnt.
“One of the theories is that they wanted to free their leader who was picked up in Mount Mandara a few weeks ago. The guard on duty has a lot of explanations to do,” said a reliable security source who pleaded anonymity.
The incident also raised questions about how a security breach could have occurred in what was supposed to be one of the most secure locations in the country. Questions about the safety of President Goodluck Jonathan whose residence is a walking distance from the headquarters of the secret police headquarters have also arisen. Though the SSS has since released three statements to cover its embarrassment, many Nigerians are not impressed.
“A case of jailbreak has been established; the important thing at this point in time is a complete overhaul of that unit. Enough of diversionary antics, the operative concerned in this incidence has shown a high level of incompetence and negligence. It is high time we took the security of this nation seriously or we will all suffer for it,” said Amos Tayo on PUNCH’s website.
“Experience has shown that a successful prison break is carried out with a man inside, so, the SSS have to provide the culprit. So many questions are yet to be answered by the SSS operative. Why should an operative take in food to a detained terrorist with a gun,” said Vintage Sam Okorafor on Twitter.
A retired director of the State Security Service and security consultant, Mr. Mike Ejiofor, said the attempted jailbreak could have been avoided if the SSS operative had followed standard operational procedure.
“He shouldn’t have gone into the cell alone or with his gun. Although I wasn’t there, but according to the report, he wanted to go feed them with his gun hanging and he was attacked,” Ejiofor said.
Former Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Brig.-Gen. Williams Obene , had last week told SUNDAY PUNCH that the country’s security agencies needed to beef up their intelligence network.
Obene, under whose watch the Nigerian Army Counter Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency Centre was established in 2010 said, “Intelligence in a conventional world is difficult. One of the reliable ways of gathering intelligence is cell mating; planting people within the cells and they becoming the terrorists themselves. We have not understood the mechanisms of doing that. If you don’t identify, how would you volunteer to get information without being compromised.”
Similarly, a security expert, who did not want to be named, told our correspondent that the country’s security agencies should strengthen their intelligence network.
He said, “Our security here is mainly based on the use of force and sophisticated weapons. The main strategy today is intelligence and that is what we don’t have. In other climes, there are intelligence officers everywhere in disguise. They put them in flash points and dark spots where they can gather information.
“But if you just sit down and say you have the best weaponry in the world, you are wasting your time. What makes security agencies in the world is intelligence. There is no way you can stop a suicide bomber already dressed to kill; you can only stop him before he packages himself. If you prevent him from packaging the explosives, danger would be averted. Such can be stopped not by force, but by intelligence.”
Ogar’s telephone was switched off when SUNDAY PUNCH tried to get her for reactions to issues being raised about last Sunday’s incident.
For those who live within the vicinity, the attempted jailbreak was like a war situation.
“I live 50 metres away from the SSS headquarters and the Villa and what I witnessed with my eyes and heard this morning was a full-scale battle,” Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, wrote on his Twitter handle.
“In my neighbourhood, exchange of gunfire is still going on with helicopter gunship hovering over the Aso Drive neighbourhood of Maitama adjoining the SSS headquarters. Whatever this is, it appears more serious than an attempted jailbreak claimed by the SSS. May God protect the innocent and destroy the murderers, kidnappers and planners of genocide, Amen,” former minister Nasir El-Rufai, posted on his Facebook page.
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered from SSS sources during the week that the exchange of gunfire was caused by the refusal of the terror suspects to surrender three high calibre weapons they seized from some SSS operatives in their escape bid.
According to the sources, each of the Tavor rifles seized by the suspects could carry as many as 90 rounds of live ammunition.
Manufacturers of the Israeli-made Tavor rifle, Israel Weapon Industries, say they designed it in collaboration with the Israeli Defence Forces due to the increasing threat of terrorism.
“The evolving situations of combat applications birthed the development of the Tavor firearm. It is a weapon system capable of moving from open field conflicts to close-quarter engagements and from daylight to night time capabilities – seamlessly on a single mission.
“Today the Tavor rifles are in service with IDF Infantry troops and the IDF Special Forces in Israel along with many military and law enforcement agencies in the world,” said a statement on the website of the manufacturers.”
Many security agencies in the world, including Nigeria’s SSS, use the Tavor rifles, which replaced the Uzi, as the primary assault for their close protection and tactical units.
A tale of security breaches
This also raises questions about possible moles in the SSS and other security networks, especially with recent attacks on military and security formations in some parts of the country.
Just two months ago, Giwa Barracks, the main military barracks in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, was attacked with several casualties recorded and detainees freed by insurgents.
Also, on September, 2010, gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram attacked Bauchi Prison and freed over 700 prisoners, including members of the fundamentalist group.
In June, 2011, a Boko Haram suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden car at the car park of the Nigerian Police headquarters in Abuja. At least five persons died and many others were injured.
Two months later, in August, that same year, at least 18 people were killed and many others injured in another Boko Haram suicide bombing at the United Nations headquarters in Abuja.
In February 2012, armed men invaded a prison in Koton-Karifi in Central Kogi State using bombs and heavy gunfire, freeing 119 inmates.
Such security breaches may be the reason why security experts are of the view that moles have infiltrated the country’s major security networks.
“There could be the possibility of having insiders/moles of Boko Haram in the SSS who are not happy with the government,” said Mr. Yomi Onasile, a former commissioner of police, adding that there were moles everywhere in the world.
“There is nowhere there are no moles, even in Israel, which has the best intelligence in the world. Edward Snowden is a recent example from the US. Our agencies have to guard against having such and also put any suspected employee under watch,” he said.
President Jonathan himself had two years ago given credence to this fact when he admitted that his government had been infiltrated by Boko Haram moles.
A few weeks ago, the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, claimed that Boko Haram members were better armed and better motivated than the army, a comment that drew the anger of Jonathan and the army.
Ejiofor, however, noted that the SSS should not be entirely condemned for the way it handled the situation. “Don’t forget that SSS operatives are human beings and are not from space. A suspect will always exploit a lapse he notices.
“In the SSS that I know, there are procedures for vetting officers before they are recruited, they are vetted to determine their suitability for the job.”
For anyone to be employed into the agency, background checks are made on them to confirm they are Nigerians, physically fit and a university graduate. Such a person must be recruited from his or her state of origin so that people would be able to identify him or her
“These are not the routine you find in other institutions. The SSS is unique. There is also a background vetting on all the schools one attended, one’s friends and political associates. The SSS doesn’t recruit people with questionable character. If the person scales all other hurdles and misses one, they would be denied employment which other organisations don’t do,” Ejiofor added.
Is it possible that members of the sect have found a way to beat these background checks or corrupted the operatives who passed all the guidelines?
“SSS does continuous vetting, which would determine one’s lifestyle and if one’s loyalty remains intact,” he said.
Many have however called on the SSS and other security operatives to draw lessons from the US Guantanamo Bay, where high-risk terror suspects are detained but has not witnessed any security breach like the one that happened last Sunday in Nigeria.
Copyright PUNCH.
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