Reports of a standoff between the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) flooded social media on Tuesday morning.

According to these accounts, DSS operatives stormed the EFCC office in Ikoyi, Lagos, denying the anti-graft agency’s officials access to the building and its premises.

Sources suggest that a long-standing rivalry over ownership of the building exists between the two agencies.

According to reports, DSS operatives forcefully entered the office at around 7:00 am on Tuesday and disregarded dialogue attempts.

FIJ visited the premises on Tuesday and got additional information.

DSS GAINED ACCESS TO THE EFCC OFFICE ON MONDAY

An EFCC official told our reporter that contrary to some media reports, the DSS did not storm the premises on Tuesday morning. Instead, the DSS gained entry to the compound on Monday while EFCC officials were observing a public holiday. Once inside, the DSS officials secured the premises by locking it.

READ ALSO: DSS Sacks EFCC From Lagos Office, Occupies It

“When we arrived this morning, we discovered that they had locked our compound. They were all armed, so I had to temporarily vacate the premises,” the official stated. “I left because I could not endanger my life for the sake of the government. Even if I were to die, life would go on.”

Regarding the impact on the area’s tranquility, the official denied any disturbance, explaining that life in the vicinity continued as usual since the DSS did not interfere with the residents.

DSS LIED

In response to earlier reports about barricading the EFCC office, the DSS said on Twitter, “It is not correct that the DSS barricaded EFCC from entering its office. No. It is not true. The Service is only occupying its own facility where it is carrying out its official and statutory responsibility.”

Negating this statement, another EFCC officer, who requested anonymity, said she was present in the compound when the DSS gained access.

“I spent the night in the office. The DSS officers arrived around 1 am without any warning,” she revealed. “After I finished bathing around 5 am, I stepped out and saw approximately 80 DSS officials wearing bulletproof vests. They left two armored tanks parked in front of our premises.”

The officer described how once inside, the DSS officers were instructed by their commander to take cover.

She noted that their actions seemed to suggest they were displeased with the EFCC using the compound.

DSS EMPLOYED UNCONVENTIONAL MEANS TO SCARE PRESSMEN

A businesswoman in the area recounted her surprise upon arriving at her stall in the morning. She told FIJ she saw armed men dressed in military uniforms with ‘Special Forces’ markings.

With two armored tanks stationed at the entrance of the firmly locked EFCC compound, she knew something bad could happen.

Shortly after her arrival, a group of pressmen arrived to capture images of the sealed gate. However, they were swiftly dispersed when DSS officials fired warning shots.

“The DSS officials fired into the air to intimidate Channels TV reporters. We all scattered for safety when the shooting began. It took me a while before I returned to my stall,” she recounted.

When asked about the impact of the DSS presence on the area, she said normalcy returned after some time, with people continuing their daily routines, except for the EFCC officials.