DSS officers’ assault on NASS staff members causes tension  

Operatives of the Department of State Services went on the rampage on Friday at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja as they manhandled two senior staff members, John Nnadi, of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and Chris Odoh, a Deputy Director.

Trouble started when the DSS personnel demanded their identification cards as they made their way from the Senate Building to the White House, the magnificent edifice linking the Senate with the House of Representatives building.

Eye witness accounts told our correspondent that the National Assembly staff were stopped by the security agents for failing to properly identify themselves.

Infuriated by the boldness of the DSS personnel, the duo tried to force their way in, leading to their manhandling and assault by the security operatives.

Efforts made by passers-by to wade into the crisis worsened the incident as the armed men dragged Nnadi and Idoh to their office located in the White House Complex.

Disturbed by the embarrassing development, staff of the National Assembly from various offices at the White House including the mace bearer in the Senate stormed the DSS office, demanding the immediate release of their colleagues.

In a bid to restore sanity, the Divisional Police Officer in the National Assembly, Alex Annagu, and Deputy Clerk to the Senate ( Legislative) Mrs Ilobah Isabella, rushed to the scene and appealed to everyone to return to their offices.

While listening to the appeal from the DPO and Deputy Clerk, Nnadi stormed out of the DSS office and demanded that the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal, be notified of the incident; a suggestion that was applauded by the crowd.

The DPO chose the path of peace, saying, “My appeal to all at this point, particularly Mr John Nnadi, is that, we should all return to our offices while John Nnadi, goes to the clinic for medical check-up on any injury that may have been inflicted on him from the alleged physical assault.”

The assaulted duo thereafter went to the clinic for a medical examination.