DSS Counters Atiku, Says Two Operatives Hurt While Protecting ADC Candidate

<blockquote><b>The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied allegations by African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar that it is recruiting protesters to create unrest in Sokoto State and provide grounds for imposing a curfew to disrupt the party’s campaign rally.</b><br><br>In a statement published on its official X handle, the Service said it was surprised by Atiku’s claim, given that two of its operatives were injured and hospitalised while protecting the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Mannir Daniya, during a mob attack.<br><br><b>According to the DSS, its operatives safely evacuated Daniya during the incident on October 31, 2026. It said the candidate later personally called the State Director of the Sokoto Command to express appreciation and requested additional reinforcement from the Service.</b><br><br><b>The DSS said the incident demonstrated its commitment to protecting political parties, adding that Atiku’s allegation could undermine the morale of its personnel who risk their lives while carrying out their duties.<br></b><br>However, the Service said the Director-General had ordered an investigation into the allegation, describing the decision as a response to the concerns raised by the former vice-president.<br><br><b>The statement also referenced a previous case involving Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, who had accused the DSS of involvement in an attack on him in Ekiti State.</b><br><br>The Service said it appreciated the police for conducting a swift investigation and providing a preliminary report, which it said identified an “altercation” as the cause of the incident. It added that 11 suspects had been arrested and that it was awaiting the outcome of the police investigation.<br><br><b>The DSS also cited its prosecution of Monday Udeme Steven, whom it said was arrested in Rivers State on March 2, 2026, for allegedly threatening to attack the National Democratic Party (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.</b><br><br>According to the Service, Udeme was prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt and is currently serving a two-year prison sentence.<br><br>The DSS concluded by stating that it would remain accountable under the leadership of the current Director-General.<br><br><b>The statement read:</b><br><br>“The attention of the DG Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to allegation by elder statesman and ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, that DSS is organising protests in Sokoto State.<br><br><b>“For the records, DSS operatives deployed to Sokoto ADC Governorship Candidate, Mannir Daniya, evacuated him to safety unhurt on 31st October 2026 when attacked in Sokoto. Two DSS operatives were assaulted during the incident and are still being treated in the hospital. The governorship candidate called personally to appreciate the State Director of Sokoto Command and even requested for reinforcement from the DSS.</b><br><br><b>“Though these operations to protect all political parties are at variance with the elder statesman’s allegation and tend to demoralise our gallant operatives who are risking their lives in the line of duty, the DG DSS has still ordered an investigation into the allegation in deference to the elder statesman.</b><br><br><b>“The Service also uses this medium to reference a similar allegation by AAC Presidential Candidate Omoyele Sowore that the Service was involved in an attack on him in Ekiti State. In this regard, we thank the Police for swift investigation and a preliminary report on the cause of the incident; ‘altercation’, coupled with the arrest of eleven suspects. We await the outcome of Police investigation and will not dissipate energy on the matter.</b><br><br>“The Service will continue to remain accountable under the present DG,” the statement concluded.</blockquote><a rel=ugc href="https://verynigerian.com/dss-counters-atiku-says-two-operatives-hurt-while-protecting-sokoto-adc-guber-candidate-arrested-jailed-man-who-threatened-obi/">https://verynigerian.com/dss-counters-atiku-says-two-operatives-hurt-while-protecting-sokoto-adc-guber-candidate-arrested-jailed-man-who-threatened-obi/</a>