■ As operatives take over lawmaker’s residence

Fred Itua, Abuja; Ndubuisi Orji; buja Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday, arrested Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. He was arrested at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Saturday Sun also gathered that his residence was immediately cordoned off by DSS operatives.
Spokesman to Abaribe, Mr. Uche Awom, while confirming the arrest, told Saturday Sun that the Abia South senator was arrested when he visited the hotel to have his hair cut.

“Yes, it is true that he has been arrested. He was arrested at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel by noon on Friday when he went there to have his hair cut,” Awom told our correspondent.
Although Abaribe’s media aide could not reveal the reason his boss was picked up, investigations by Saturday Sun showed that his alleged inability to produce Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who he stood surety for, and his recent strong stance against President Muhammadu Buhari’s government may have led to his arrest.

Sources say Abaribe had at different fora, both on the floor of the senate and outside of it, lampooned President Buhari for his poor handling of security, economy and other national issues.
He recently suggested that December 31st of every year be declared as Democracy Destruction Day, to commemorate the military coup of 1983, spearheaded by Buhari.

It was further gathered that Abaribe’s running battle with the DSS, started in April when operatives stormed the lawmaker’s office at the National Assembly. The operatives, it was learnt, informed Abaribe that their boss, Lawal Daura “wants to have a friendly chat with him.”
Abaribe, who chairs the South East caucus of the Senate, turned down the invitation. Instead, he told the operatives to formally write to him, through the President of the Senate before he could honour the invitation.

It was learnt that the operatives eventually left when the lawmaker declined to follow them. Since the informal invitation, DSS operatives have been reportedly trailing him.

Saturday Sun has also gathered that some operatives of the DSS recently visited his senatorial office in Abia State, to ascertain the authenticity of the constituency projects he has executed.
Meanwhile, operatives of DSS have taken over the Abuja residence of Abaribe. Sources told Saturday Sun that the operatives stormed the house, located at Apo Legislators’ Quarters at about 5.30pm yesterday, in company with Abaribe.

As at the time of filing this report, people were not allowed to go in or out of the house. It was gathered that the operatives also searched the house, after which some of the operatives returned to their office with Abaribe, leaving others behind.