Security operative quizzed for shooting inside Aso Rock

The Presidency is currently investigating a case of security breach that occurred inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, The PUNCH has learnt.

The incident, our correspondent learnt, involved one of the security operatives attached to a delegation of the Danish Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Kristian Jensen, who visited Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that the incident occurred shortly after Jensen, who was accompanied by the Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Mr. Torben A. Gettermann, and other Danish embassy officials, scaled through the last security checkpoint.

Based on the rules, security men attached to the Administrative Reception, where the last screening always takes place, were said to have told him that he could not go beyond the point with his weapon.He said the security operative who was in mufti attempted to follow members of the delegation into the venue of the meeting with his weapon.

The source said the man told them that his weapon was not “loaded.”

He said, “When he was told to drop the weapon, the man told those manning the security point that it was not loaded.

“He then removed the weapon. The security guys initially thought he wanted to submit the weapon to them.

“Surprisingly, the guy pulled the weapon and fired it to prove that it was empty.

“Shocked at the development, the security guys on duty quickly rose and got their rifles ready for action.”

Another source who witnessed the incident said he was about running out of the reception to avoid stray bullets hitting him when he discovered that the situation had quickly been brought under control.

He said while Jensen and members of his delegation made their ways to the Conference Hall of the Vice President’s office, the security operative was quickly disarmed.

He was said to have been detained and quizzed for several hours by top security officials attached to the Presidential Villa.

He was reportedly released several hours after the delegation he escorted to the Presidential Villa had left.

“He was taken into a room where he was drilled for hours. He was only released at the close of work in the evening,” the source added.

Our correspondent learnt on Wednesday that a report on the incident had been prepared and submitted to both Osinbajo and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

At the meeting Osinbajo had with Jensen, he lauded the re-opening of the Danish Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos.

He said the development showed the strong cooperation between both countries.

Earlier, Jensen had commended the Federal Government’s effort in fighting the Boko Haram insurgency.

He also lauded efforts being put in place for the resettlement of the internally displaced persons.

He said his country would like to strengthen its relationship with Nigeria, being a voice in the sub-region and on the continent.