“DSS Is Weak In Intelligence Gathering” – PDP Slams Duara Led Leadership After Abuja Bombing

The Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the Department of State Security is weak in intelligence gathering.

It said this was what led to the two simultaneous bombings recorded at two satellite towns within the Federal Capital Territory on Friday.

The bombings led to the death of 20 persons while 41 others were seriously wounded.

Acting National Chairman of the opposition party, Mr. Uche Secondus, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said the agency should not be seen to be political in its activities.

Secondus called on President Muhamadu Buhari to carry out an overhaul of the agency and other security outfits in the country.

He expressed PDP’s ‘deep sadness and concern’ at the resurgence of terrorism and renewed attacks on the nation’s capital.

He added that the Abuja coordinated attacks came just as the nation was already celebrating the success of its security forces in their efforts to rout terrorists.

The renewed attacks, he noted, was an indication of either a fact of dereliction of duty or sabotage against the anti-terrorism fight.

Secondus added that his party had remained steadfast in its commitment to support each and every policy adopted by the government of Buhari aimed at ending terrorism, especially knowing the importance of secured environment in achieving peaceful co-existence, an imperative for development.

He said, “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.

“Our checks revealed that poor intelligence gathering by the Department of State Services and other relevant intelligence groups is largely, if not directly responsible for the resurgence of terrorists, who have earlier been pushed to the precipice 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.”

Secondus alleged that the agency’s dereliction of duty could have been occasioned by the alleged use of the DSS for political assignments since the emergence of the new DG of the DSS.