The Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended former House of Representatives member Aliyu Gebi on accusations of distributing false security intelligence to foreign embassies in Nigeria.
Gebi, a security consultant and former lawmaker from the 7th National Assembly, was taken into custody on Friday, April 3, according to sources familiar with the situation. Although he has been granted bail, he remains under investigation and must report regularly to the DSS headquarters.
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As reported by Premium Times, Gebi is accused of providing intelligence information to foreign missions that was later deemed misleading by authorities.
A security source informed Premium Times that these reports raised alarms among international stakeholders, particularly in the aviation industry. “Lufthansa cancelled flights to Nigeria,” the source noted, and “British Airways nearly followed suit.”
Another source indicated that the intelligence influenced a US travel advisory warning citizens of security dangers in various regions of Nigeria.
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The US State Department urged non-essential personnel to leave and advised Americans to reconsider travel due to risks of kidnapping, armed robbery, assaults, and banditry in states like Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, and Rivers.
The Nigerian government challenged certain aspects of the advisory, calling on foreign partners to ensure that their assessments are “balanced and up-to-date” and reflect the “progress being made” in security.
Sources revealed that some embassies initially contemplated taking action based on the intelligence, but diplomatic discussions with Nigerian officials helped ease the situation. “Many embassies considered acting on the report, but the Nigerian government engaged them, and they decided to hold off,” one source said. “However, the United States proceeded to issue that advisory.”
