‘I Will Deal With You’ – DSS Official Threatens Journalists At Bauchi Event

A heated argument occurred on Thursday between an official of the Department of State Services (DSS) and journalists in Bauchi, where one of the security personnel threatened to deal with pressmen covering an event.

Naija News learnt that security personnel assigned to Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, had charged members of the Bauchi Correspondents’ Chapel present at the Emir of Katagum’s Palace during the governor’s visit to the local government, to leave the venue.

The Governor had visited the palace following a violent protest that resulted in the burning of the Council Secretariat in Azare by some individuals.

However, as some journalists made moves to cover the governor’s address, they faced strict restrictions from the security officials attached to the governor.

One of the DSS officials present, who was identified simply as Abdul, reportedly instructed the journalists to leave the hall.

However, the journalists, looked for an alternative spot to continue their work. Abdul approached them again, issuing a threat: “This is just the beginning.”

Naija News gathered that the alternation didn’t go unnoticed by Governor Mohammed, who was seated alongside other dignitaries, including the Emir of Katagum.

“You challenged me? You will see. This thing that you have done, this is the beginning,” the DSS official threatened the journalists, leaving witnesses in the palace stunned.

Responding, one of the journalists cautioned that Abdul’s comment sounded like a threat.

However, the security operative reiterated his intention to “deal with” the journalists.

“He once molested me at a function. He is quite aggressive,” Daily Post quoted a journalist attached to the Government House Press Crew, to have said.

It was reported that security personnel attached to the Government House had, last week, brutalised a person living with disability, identified as Hamza Waziri, who is now hospitalized at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.

Waziri was participating in the #EndBadGovernance protest in front of the Government House when four police officers assaulted him.

The incident was captured in a trending video clip.

Similarly, Aisha Dogara, a Bauchi resident who equally participated in the same protest, was assaulted and had her clothes torn, with visible bruises all over her body.