Department of State Services (DSS) officials attached to the Presidential Villa, Abuja were reportedly ordered out of the premises on Wednesday, June 24.

The officials, who were ejected from the villa, belong to the Body Guard Unit of the DSS and had been working in the Presidential Villa since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

A security aide of President Muhammadu Buhari was said to have gone round offices in the evening to chase the DSS officials out, saying that a directive had been given that they should no longer be allowed access into the premises.

We had reported some days ago that the DSS officials may be replaced with operatives of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps, especially after the rejection of about 253 new operatives of the DSS recently redeployed from the service’s various state commands to the Presidential Villa.

Some of the DSS officials who were chased out of the villa revealed to Punch Newspapers that they would most likely resume at their beat on Thursday (today) unless they receive a contrary directive from their headquarters.

“We were asked to leave the premises or risk arrest. As I am talking to you now, some of us are gathering under the trees while some others have left. It is surprising but we have no choice than to resume here again tomorrow (today) and see what will happen.

“The only reason why we may not come here is if we receive any other directive from our headquarters,” one of the officials told our correspondent on the telephone.

Reacting to the development, the Presidency issued a statement through the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

Adesina said Buhari had not given any order for the expulsion of DSS officials from the Presidential Villa.

“Rumours that personnel of the Department of State Services have been expelled from the Presidential Villa are unfounded. President Muhammadu Buhari has given no such order.

“While it is true that a reorganisation of security at the Presidential Villa which involves the realignment of personnel from various services is underway, the exercise does not translate to the expulsion of DSS personnel from the premises in any way. The changes being made are routine adjustments which are not unexpected in any dynamic environment from time to time.”