DSS ARRESTS OWN OFFICERS WHO ATTACKED FGGC

UPDATE ON DSS ATTACK ON FGGC AS OFFICERS ARE ARRESTED

Teachers in Calabar protesting the alleged assault of DSS operatives on a teacher

Video evidence of the DSS assault of teachers at the Federal Girls College, Calabar has emerged online as Nigerians continue to condemn actions of the operatives.

This is coming as five personnel of the DSS were reportedly detained over the alleged brutality on the Calabar FGGC teachers.

Sources in DSS said the affected personnel were arrested same day of the incident.

According to the Guardian, the sources said: “As we speak, five of our security personnel are in detention because we have commenced investigation into the incident that happened in the federal girls school.

“The DSS remains a law-abiding organisation and will never condone any act of lawlessness from any of its men and officers.”The state Director of DSS, Mr. Fubara Duke declined comment on the matter."

Recall that teachers at the Federal Government Girls College, Calabar on Tuesday January 7 staged a peaceful protest to the Cross River House of Assembly over alleged assault by operatives of Department of State Service on some members, News Agency of Nigeria reports.

The event which earned the collective displeasure of teachers occurred on Thursday,February 2,the teachers who was in the assembly to protest the assault came under the Trade Union Congress,Cross River chapter,according to them, they were in the assembly to register their objections to the event which occurred in the school.

Chairman of TUC, Mr Clarkson Otu said the teachers were also there to demand for a thorough investigation of the matter and also to call for justice.He said,“We are here to register our grievances over the invasion of FGGC Calabar on February 2 by officials of DSS, where they flogged a teacher before his students.

“And when other teachers demanded to know why, they were beaten thoroughly including a Vice Principal of the school.“The DSS operatives also shot sporadically into the air and caused serious commotion in the school premises.

“We have come to demand for a thorough investigation of the matter by the authorities and the culprits brought book.“Sir, we demand that this matter must not be swept under the carpet. That is why we are here.”

Some of the protesters carried placards which read: “Stop this oppression”; “Enough is enough`’; “No more oppression from DSS”, among others.The protesters also submitted a letter to the Speaker of the house.The Clerk, Mr. Bassey Ekpenyong,who received the letter on behalf of the Speaker, commended the TUC for the peaceful protest

He also described the DSS action as very unfortunate, noting that teachers deserved to be treated with dignity in the country.

He said, “All of us here were trained by teachers. So, let us treat our teachers with dignity.“I want to assure you that we will ensure that justice is done in this case. We will ensure that nothing but justice is done.”

Recall that some teachers of Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Calabar were reportedly beaten by men of the Department of State Service (DSS) who allegedly stormed the school and ordered all the staff out of their office on Thursday,February 2.

The teachers claim the event occurred because a student was reprimanded by a teacher.