There was shooting in the vicinity of Nigeria's Presidential palace and the headquarters of the Department of State Services in the Asokoro District of Abuja.
The expansive headquarters of the State Security Service, popularly known as Yellow House, is adjacent to one of the remote gates of the Presidential villa.
Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and resident of the Asokoro District of Abuja where the SSS headquarters is located, Nasir El-Rufai, has been posting updates on the situation via his Facebook and Twitter accounts.
post by Tiblaze
- IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD: Exchange of gunfire still going on with helicopter gunship hovering over the Aso Drive... http://fb.me/11K7n2wVF
- @elrufai: IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD: There is currently serious gunfight going on at the SSS HQ. The road is blocked... http://fb.me/2RIOLWQaf
- IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD: There is currently serious gunfight going on at the SSS HQ. The road is blocked and traffic diverted by armed soldiers!
Nasir El-Rufai 
Latest reports suggest that over 20 Boko Haram were shot dead in the shootout, several others and a number of DSS operatives sustained injuries.
The trouble started around 6 a.m. during the normal handing and taking over of duties by DSS detainees' handlers. As soon as one handlers opened the gate leading to the cell where the detainees were being kept, ten suspected terrorists rushed out, snatched the handler's rifle and used it to shoot him. Following the attack, some DSS handlers reportedly retreated for safety reasons.
After shooting the first handler, the ten suspected terrorists began to escape into different locations within the massive security compound. Alarmed by the effrontery of the suspected terrorists, the DSS quickly deployed its men to quell the uprising.
As investigation into the incident has already begun.
"The whole episode occurred around 6:30 am and 7am on Sunday during the normal handing over and takeover of detainees," a reliable source said. "The standard rule is that you cannot go alone to open the gate leading to the detainees’ cell but as soon as the man opened the gate, he was attacked and he tried to run away and was shot. The shot operative has been taken to hospital."
The spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar, said there was an attempted jailbreak at the Service's headquarters by suspected members of Boko Haram sect, hence, the shooting.
She said, "What happened was that the suspects handlers went to feed the detainees here but suddenly they attacked him with their handcuffs, disarmed him and started shooting.
"The military was quickly called in before they could do any harm and that is responsible for the shootings you heard. It was an attempted jailbreak but it has been brought under control."
According to the latest reports, military helicopters have been deployed and are now hovering around the area. The roads leading to the SSS headquarters have been cordoned off. Commuters and vehicles passing through the Aso a Drive were searched by armed soldiers and DSS operatives.
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