I know I have been walking on the edge….thin line of freedom and it will not come to me as a surprise if I will be a guest at either Shangisha, Ikoyi, or Abuja detention center of the now so unprofessional SSS under an ineffectual and insensitive Presidency. The recent killing at Apo in Abuja on Friday, 20th September 2013 is the height of “state sponsored terrorism”.
I’m not surprised at the actions of the PRO of the SSS, she’s a serial liar…. a pathological liar. That she is still at that desk is an indication of how lazy and compromised our nation’s press is…..how shallow and how independent it is.
I remember after the October 1, 2011 bombing of Eagle Square Abuja, she addressed a Press Conference where she announced that Raymond Dokpesi has been arrested in connection with the incidence because of some text messages found on the suspects’ phones the SSS had in custody. She had the temerity to address a press conference 10 days later and claimed she was not aware that Raymond Dokpesi was ever questioned.
She got away with it because those at the venue and editorial boards of all media outfits that aired the first report were either too docile or greedy to serve the interest of the nation, to ask pertinent questions.
This is one agency of the government that has lost its steam, values and essence. I tend to ask myself; “is this the same SSS that exhibited utmost efficiency in the days of Abacha?”. I know that was an era any operative of the SSS would gladly want to relive.
I am also wondering where all the opportunistic activists that were screaming to high heaven over what they called “CHILD MARRIAGE” are. Where is Stella Damascus whose knowledge on national issues is as shallow as an average Nollywood script? Why have none of them condemned the Apo killing by the SSS?
Let be take on the SSS and analyse this issue on operational procedure in tandem with the “Rules of Engagement” in urban warfare.
What they will tell you was that they(SSS) went in hard and strong, what the Americans call “full bridge”. To start with, the SSS and Maryln Ogar should come to terms with the stark reality that a sizeable population of Nigerians won’t just swallow the “Boko Haram” and buried arms bullshit.
First, there was a claim that “they” were shot at. I want to ask, did they come under heavy bombardment to warrant such reaction? How many shots were fired at them to be considered as being under “heavy bombardment”?
As stipulated in the “Rules of Engagement” in urban warfare, there should have been verbal warnings issued to the suspect(s) to surrender. If and when such warnings are disregarded, warning shots are fired, that is, if there was a crowd classified as hostile.
The next line of action in the line of operation is to separate children and women from such crowd, and never to engage such crowd in a gun duel unless you are being endangered and under heavy bombardment.
In the Apo scenario, the area should have been cordoned off. There should have been personnel on ground relating with the residents in the area in a bid to warn them and inform them of what is to go down. This is to reduce collateral damage of any residents likely to be caught in the cross-fire.
There is no way under standard operational procedure you go in hard and heavy… I mean full bridge without gaining entry into the residence.
The area (ground zero) is lighted with floodlights because of the timing. The operative must have their night vision google on. Flares are used in a bid to smoke the suspects out of hiding. You don’t subject the house to heavy bombardment from afar.
That was what the SSS did…
And in my opinion, those people were murdered!
At the end of the operation, whatever was believed to be in that building to attract the execution of such operation should have been displayed for all to see…immediately.
As we speak, the SSS has not availed the public of all the cache of arms said to be buried on the residence.
Till now, the SSS has not shown us any bomb-making materials, armoury or gears (BDU’s boots, uniforms) that depicts a terrorist cell or hideout.
From all indications, this operation did not follow at least a single word in the “Rules of Engagement”, an indication that the Apo building was just a shooting training range for the SSS.
The dead are nothing and will be nothing but a collateral damage until some people are relieved of their duties….until some people are arrested…. Until some people are made to face murder charges.
Who sanctioned the operation? This has got me thinking and audacious to suggest a name-change for the SSS. Maybe it should not be State Security Service(SSS) but the State Killer Squad(SKS).
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