John Ameh and Leke Baiyewu

The Department of State Services has reduced the number of its operatives attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and his Deputy, Mr. Yussuff Lasun.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, told The PUNCH that the number of the DSS operatives attached to the two presiding officers was reduced.

He, however, clarified that it was not a total withdrawal of all the operatives. Namdas stated, “Yes, the development we have is that they have reduced the Speaker’s DSS operatives. They also reduced the operatives attached to the Deputy Speaker.

“They have not offered any explanations for this action” he stated. Namdas declined to give the exact number of men withdrawn.

But, a parliamentary source informed The PUNCH that 10 operatives were withdrawn from Dogara, while five were withdrawn from Lasun.

“In all, they took away 15 operatives from the two presiding officers”, the source said

A source in the Senate confirmed to one of our correspondents that the DSS operatives attached to Senate President, Bukola Saraki had been reduced tremendously.

“It is true. They were reduced tremendously but I don’t have more details yet,” the source said.

The DSS could not be reached to react to the alleged withdrawal as it does not have a spokesperson.

An online medium, The Cable, had on Sunday reported that the DSS had recalled half of its operatives assigned to Saraki and Dogara.