Gunshots were heard emanating from the heavily barricaded No. 15 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which has been seized by the Department of State Services (DSS) from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that since Tuesday morning, the premises, formerly shared by both agencies, has been under the exclusive control of armed DSS operatives.
The government secret police, equipped with armoured vehicles, have prevented EFCC personnel from entering their offices on the premises as of press time.
The gunfire occurred when journalists from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) approached the locked gate to capture video footage.
The shots seemed to have been fired as a warning, and no journalists or EFCC operatives outside were injured.
In a statement earlier in the day, the EFCC expressed shock over the incident, describing it as an unprecedented development.
The Commission highlighted their 20-year cohabitation with the DSS in the facility without any prior incidents.
The commission also made it known that the denial of access to their offices has disrupted the EFCC’s operations at their largest hub, housing over 500 personnel, numerous exhibits, and several detainees.
Scheduled court hearings have been cancelled, and many suspects summoned for questioning have been left unattended, the commission said.
Watch the video of the incident here.
