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Tag: Department of State Services

  • DSS rescues kidnapped pastors, nabs three suspects in Niger

    DSS rescues kidnapped pastors, nabs three suspects in Niger

    Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Niger State have rescued two pastors and a church member abducted by armed bandits in Kaduna State.

    The victims, Rev. Idi Buhari, Emmanuel Jacob and Suleiman Adamu, were kidnapped on January 9, 2026, at the Gwagwada area of Chikun Local Government Area while travelling through Kugosi to Sarkin Pawa in Niger State to officiate a wedding ceremony.

    Receiving the rescued pastors, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said the victims were safely rescued from the bush by DSS operatives during ongoing security operations in Niger State.

    Rev. Hayab commended the DSS for what he described as courageous, timely and selfless service to the nation, noting that the successful rescue brought immense relief to the church and families of the victims.

    He said the safe return of the abducted pastors gave renewed hope that criminal elements could be defeated through sustained and coordinated security efforts.

    The CAN chairman stressed that insecurity could only be effectively tackled through cooperation among security agencies, faith leaders and the general public, warning that criminals thrive when communities are divided.

    Meanwhile, DSS operatives of the Niger and Kaduna state commands in a joint operation also arrested three suspects linked to the incident. The suspects are also involved in arms and ammunition courier and they operate along the Kwara–Niger–Katsina–Kaduna axis.

    One of the suspects, Kwalo, disclosed that they transport the ammunition through motor parks and rural routes to evade security checkpoints.

    He also stated that they received a consignment from a courier at Tegina Motor Park in Niger State and handed it over to Kawu, who subsequently passed it to Iro Malam Iro for onward delivery.

    Iro was said to have conveyed the ammunition from Tegina to Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, where it was allegedly delivered to an unidentified recipient after he was directed to use specific routes to avoid detection.

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    Kwalo received N50,000 for collecting the consignment, Kawu earned N5,000 as a middleman, while Iro was paid N20,000 as courier.

    During interrogation, Kwalo claimed he was deceived into handling the consignment, alleging that the sender told him it contained tantalite, a precious stone, concealed in sacks of millet to prevent theft.

    Reacting to the arrests and rescue of the abducted pastors, Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu, SAN, said the operation reflected the commitment of the DSS and other security agencies to protecting lives and property.

    Shuaibu commended the DSS leadership for its sustained efforts, assuring residents that the Kaduna State Government, under Governor Uba Sani, remains committed not only to maintaining peace but to sustaining it.

    He urged citizens to support security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities, stressing that security is a shared responsibility and that continued collaboration is critical to curbing criminality across the state.

  • DSS, NSCDC arrest trucks with stolen lithium ore

    DSS, NSCDC arrest trucks with stolen lithium ore

    Seven trucks laden with illegally-mined lithium ore have been arrested by the Southwest Zonal Office of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

    The trucks were intercepted in the Southwest during a coordinated intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Southwest Zonal Mine Officer Ganiyu Ajibade, who dropped the hint, said that the crackdown followed credible intelligence received on January 8, indicating that a convoy of 12 trucks had been mobilised to remove lithium ore from an active mining site in Saki, Oyo State.

    According to him, he alerted the DSS and NSCDC security operatives while also directing his colleagues in Kwara and Ogun states to monitor and track the movement of the trucks.

    Ajibade said during the operation, intelligence showed that the convoy departed Saki at 11pm on January 8, reached Igbeti early Friday morning, and continued towards Ilorin, Kwara State by 7pm same day.

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    He said: “The seven trucks were apprehended between 9pm and 10pm on the Okoolowo–Eyenkorin Expressway in Kwara State.

    “During the operation, one driver escaped, abandoning his vehicle, while the others were taken into custody. Upon questioning, the drivers admitted they were hired by an individual to transport the lithium ore.

    “All accompanying documents issued at the mining site were recovered.”

    Ajibade described the operation as a reflection of the   directives given by Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake, who has maintained a zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining.

    He affirmed the ministry’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s mineral resources and warned that enforcement against illegal mining and mineral theft will be intensified across the Southwest.

  • DSS denies personnel involvement in alleged abduction, defilement of minor

    DSS denies personnel involvement in alleged abduction, defilement of minor

    •Confirms arrest of serving officer over forced marriage

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied reports linking one Ifeanyi Festus to its personnel in connection with alleged abduction, defilement of a minor and abuse of office, stating that the Service has no record of such a person in its employment.

    In a statement issued yesterday, the DSS, however, confirmed that a serving officer, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, has been arrested over allegations of forceful conversion and marriage of a woman identified as Walida Abdulhadi.

    The statement was signed by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, DSS National Headquarters, Abuja, Favour Dozie.

    The Service said the suspect is currently under investigation, stressing that the alleged acts are against its regulations and code of conduct.

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    It added that the outcome of the investigation will be made public.

    The statement reads, “The attention of Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to reports alleging involvement of a staff of DSS, one Ifeanyi Festus, in a case of abduction, defilement of a minor and abuse of office among other offences.

    “For clarity, the Service has no record of the above named in its employment.”

    “However, it is hereby confirmed that, an active staff member, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, who is suspected to have forcefully converted and married one Walida Abdulhadi ‘f’, has been arrested and is currently being investigated.

  • DSS arrests gang leader, killers of university don Philip Ephraim

    DSS arrests gang leader, killers of university don Philip Ephraim

    Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on December 27, this year arrested the alleged leader of the gang and another person, who kidnapped and murdered a prominent professor of neurology, Ekanem Philip Ephraim on July 13, 2023, a source said yesterday.

    The gang leader,  Patrick Essien Etim, 23, and his accomplice, Bassey Antiha Asuquo, 40, were apprehended at  a medical facility in Cross River State  while planning to kidnap another medical bigwig it was gathered.

    According to the source, the DSS had been tracking the  kidnap ring since Ephraim’s killing, when gunmen posing as patients abducted her.

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    The duo has confessed to the crime, admitting that they killed the university don after collecting ransom payments from her family, the source said.

    ‘It has been two years of torment for her loved ones, not knowing what happened to the Professor. I believe that, with this arrest, her family and loved ones will be able to finally have some peace and  the much needed closure that they deserve,” the source said.

    The suspects also owned up to kidnapping other victims and vandalising electricity cables, with one Isaac Ekpeyong who was also arrested by the operatives, according to the source.

    Ekanem was abducted by unknown gunmen who posed as patients at her private clinic at Atimbo Road, Calabar. Her kidnapping sparked protests by the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), in a bid to prevail on the government to rescue the don, crippling the health sector for over a week,

    “This huge breakthrough underscores the commitment of the DSS in reverting to covertness in its operations and restoring public safety across the country,” declared the source.

  • DSS parades ‘fake doctor’ for killing 15 patients

    The Department of State Services (DSS) has paraded a man described as a fake doctor, Ibrahim Mustapha, having operated illegally under the Adamawa State government since 2015.

    DSS State Director of Security, Bola Olori, paraded the suspect yesterday in Yola, the state capital.

    He said Mustapha, who allegedly started his alleged fake practice as a ward attendant in Gombe State, was employed in Adamawa as a doctor with alleged forged medical certificates.

    Olori said: “Preliminary investigations revealed that Mustapha holds an NBTE certificate. He perfected the act in Gombe State, where he worked as a ward attendant in several clinics.

    “He was aided by a practising doctor who gave him sample copies of his NECO result, MBBS of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate and that of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) annual registration licence, all of which he forged.

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    “The suspect subsequently gained employment into the Adamawa State Health Management Board in October 2015 as a doctor and rose to the post of Principal Medical Officer, serving at the cottage hospitals in Mayo Belwa and Fufore.

    “Prior to his arrest, the suspect, in the past five years, performed hundreds of surgical operations in several hospitals in the state.

    The suspect and his accomplice have been taken into custody. They will be prosecuted after investigations.”

    The DSS director did not mention the number of casualties the suspect caused, but Governor Ahmadu Fintiri was quoted on Wednesday to have accused the suspect of causing the death of 15 people.

    The governor spoke during a ministerial briefing in Yola, saying a fake doctor who was employed in 2015 by the State Health Services Management Board was discovered to have attended a secondary school and only possessed a National Board for Technical Education (NABTEB) certificate.

    The governor said his administration will set up a committee to fish out quack doctors in the state and bring them to justice.

  • ‘Probe Abia REC for using PDP members as ad-hoc staff’

    Three social-cultural groups have accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Abia State, Mr Joseph Iloh, of using People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members as electoral officials in tomorrow’s election.

    The Concerned Abia Leaders, Abia Renaissance Group and Abia Elites for Good Governance urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene.

    They also petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS), National Security Adviser (NSA) and Inspector General of Police (IGP).

    The groups called for Iloh’s investigation and the immediate redeployment of INEC returning officers, collation officers and ad-hoc staff in Abia.

    They warned that retaining them means “that pre-determined election results will be declared after the rescheduled poll of February 23, 2019.”

    The Concerned Abia Leaders, through its president Mr Emeka Ukonu, a lawyer, and the Secretary General, Chief Desmond Obioha, urged President Buhari to investigate INEC’s list in Abia State which the group claimed is filled with 90 per cent PDP card carrying members.

    “Despite not holding brief for any political party, we shall not support any action (s) that will jeopardise the electoral process.

    “Contrary to the tenets of electoral process and democracy, which are anchored on transparency, probity and accountability, the officials of INEC in Abia have been compromised by the PDP for ulterior motives in a bid to short-change the will of the people.

    “Your Excellency Sir, it may interest you to note that most of the returning officers across Abia state are members or associates of top chieftains of the PDP. The personal relationships between the leadership of the INEC and top chieftains and members of the PDP in Abia state are not only worrisome but undemocratic.

    “All these atrocities couldn’t have been possible without the knowledge and support of the INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu and Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia state, Mr. Joseph Iloh,” the groups alleged.

  • DSS denies abducting Melaye

    The Department of State Services ( DSS) has denied that its operatives abducted Sen. Dino Melaye as alleged in some media.

    A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Mr Peter Afunanya, said that the police brought Dino to its medical facility.

    “The Service wishes to state that the information, as being misrepresented by sections of the media, is far from the truth,”he said.

    Afunanya added that there was no time Dino was abducted by the service.

    “The fact is that it was the Police that brought him to the DSS facility after obtaining a 14-day detention warrant with effect from Jan.9.

    “The aim of bringing him to the Service’s facility is to complement Police efforts in giving the Senator a deserved medical attention,”he said.

    He explained that the Service accepted him in line with medical ethics and spirit of inter-agency cooperation.

    The spokesman said the clarification became necessary to address the allegation that hooded men suspected to be DSS operatives abducted him from the Police hospital.

    “The DSS, therefore, reiterates and assures the public of its commitment to professionalism and respect for human rights in its operational engagements,”he said.

    Also, Force Spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood had earlier explained in a statement that Dino was moved to the DSS facility in Abuja, for further medical attention.

    The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) recalls that Melaye collapsed after surrendering to the police who had laid an eight-day siege on his residence for allegedly failing to honour its invitation with regards to accusation of attempted culpable homicide.( NAN)

  • DSS releases Aisha Buhari’s ex-ADC

    THE Department of State Services (DSS) has released the former ADC to First Lady Aisha Buhari, CSP Mohammed Baba-Inna, who was once alleged to have collected huge sums of money on her behalf.

    In a statement, the DSS spokesman, Mr. Peter Afunanya, stated that DSS has now returned the police officer to police authorities, who were investigating him before the DSS put him into custody and took over the investigation.

    However, the DSS is yet to reveal when an alleged fraudster variously known as Amina Mohammed, Justina Oluoha and Amina Villa, who was paraded at DSS headquarters in Abuja on December 3, would be taken before a court of law.

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    During the parade of the suspect, the DSS spokesman had said that Amina, who proclaimed her innocence had “unauthorised access to the Presidential Villa and used the name and office of the First Lady to engage in a fraudulent acts”.

    However, in his statement, Afunanya explained that the release of CSP Baba-Inna does not amount to acquittal in any form as police authorities are to make further investigations.

  • Nebulous homily

    DSS’ misdirected sermon to the media

    On Tuesday last week, the Department of State Services (DSS) issued a curious and portentous statement calling on the media to “report issues of national security with caution to avoid a breach of peace” and warning that “no deliberate effort should be made by self-serving interests to bring the service to ridicule. No country or its media can afford to undermine their own security forces because of the severe consequences that portends”. Continuing in the same vein, the statement averred that the DSS “as an institution of government will continue to carry out legitimate orders; respect the rule of law and protect the citizens in line with global practices and standard operational procedures (SOPs) in intelligence gathering and law enforcement. Dark forces should not bring the service into a collision with the government it is meant diligently to serve”.

    Apart from some vague reference to “several speculations making the rounds in the media on some internal affairs of the service” which it claims “are unhealthy for the service and indeed Nigeria”, the DSS offered no concrete instances to back its weighty claims against the media. It is not impossible, however, that the service was referring to recent reports in some social and traditional media platforms as regards the alleged directive by a key official in the presidency that the Acting Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Mathew Sefiya, reverse all appointments and staff postings he had made since his assumption of office. Sefiya came on board on the directive of the then Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on August 7.

    Indeed, some sections of the media have gone further to report that the acting DG of the DSS has since complied with the directive and reversed the postings. It is noteworthy that neither the DSS nor the presidency has denied the veracity of these reports, which may be an indication that they are not necessarily untrue. We consider it unlikely that such information on the internal affairs of the DSS would have got into the public domain without the knowledge of possibly disgruntled insiders within the service.

    The DSS ought to know that the media has a responsibility to bring to the knowledge of the public any information it deems to be of significance to the public good in accordance with its statutorily stipulated role in Section 22 of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution, which charges it to “be free at all times to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people”. The security agencies are certainly not excluded from the oversight purview of the media.

    In this specific case, it is legitimate for the media to be concerned about adherence to clearly stipulated reporting channels of authority by any agency of government, including the DSS. True, the DSS is an agency under the executive branch of government and it is bound to carry out legitimate directives as it rightly notes in its public statement. But in exercising its supervisory powers over agencies under its control, the presidency also has the responsibility to ensure that this is done through appropriate channels and with due discretion without eroding the dignity and authority of the heads of such agencies.

    We consider it extremely unhealthy for the Acting DG of the DSS to have exercised his discretion on staff postings only to be ordered to retrace his steps in a manner that cannot be rightly described in any other way but as being humiliating. It is difficult to see how those officers who were affected by the postings but are now back at their desks, courtesy of the directive of an aide of the president, can be expected to have any respect for their boss. Indeed, can the DG summon the courage and confidence in future to sanction any of these ‘sacred cows’ if necessary without thinking nervously about the possible reactions of their patrons in the presidency?

    Given the recent unsavoury developments in the DSS leading to the sack of its former boss, Mr. Lawal Daura, and the appointment of the acting DG, it is only natural that there will be much public interest in the affairs of the agency. This is more so in a complex and diverse plural polity like ours, with ethno-regional, partisan and religious motives easily read into even the most innocuous of actions. It is therefore critical that those in positions of responsibility refrain from acting in ways that will give unpatriotic and unscrupulous elements ammunition to fuel mischief and perpetrate falsehood.

    If the DSS has sufficient evidence that any media outfit is being used by ‘dark forces’, to bring it on ‘a collision with the government’ or to ‘bring the service to ridicule’ thereby undermining the security of the country, it should simply apprehend and bring perpetrators of such infractions before the law for justice to be done. It can most certainly not be a judge in its own case. Nebulous homilies predicated on baseless insinuations are unhelpful.

  • Osinbajo in the saddle

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the past 10 working days was clearly calling the shots as Acting President.

    He stepped in as President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on holiday in London on Friday, August 3.

    Osinbajo was not new to the terrain as he has been Acting President for a longer period last year.

    What is new now is that his impact and authority were more felt while the President was away.

    To digress a bit, just before the President left Nigeria for London on August 3, there was a strong rumour that the holiday was just a plot to allow Buhari’s men to clamp down on the National Assembly.

    It was said that the period will be used to specifically to impeach the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki in order to give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) control of the legislative arm of government.

    But with the 10-day holiday over, the rumour never came to reality while Osinbajo was in the saddle.

    Instead of facing the legislature as was rumoured before Buhari’s trip to London, Osinbajo’s impact, authority and drastic changes were felt and seen more in the executive arm of government.

    As a starter, Osinbajo on his third working day as Acting President, that is on August 7, terminated the appointment of the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Musa Daura.

    Daura had stormed the National Assembly with armed and masked DSS security personnel without the knowledge or approval of the Presidency.

    He prevented lawmakers, journalists and management and staff from accessing the complex.

    Not a few Nigerians were happy and surprised at the same time when Osinbajo immediately announced Daura’s sack after the National Assembly blockage.

    That Osinbajo’s action alone on that Tuesday was believed to have sent warning signals to every top government officials in the executive arm of government.

    The clear message from Osinbajo’s action was that no nonsense, undemocratic and illegal practices would be entertained under his watch.

    Members of the cabinet, including ministers, were also believed to have adjusted to the new order.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held the following day after Daura’s sack provided the opportunity for Nigerians to see what the body languages of the cabinet members would be to the new order.

    For the first time since Osinbajo was presiding over FEC as Acting President or Vice President, a higher number of ministers were at the Council chamber when the meeting started around 10a.m on the 8th of August 2018.

    Twenty-three ministers out of thirty-four ministers (apart from the President who doubles as Petroleum Minister and former Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed who left for United Nations’ job) were in attendance during the rendition of the National anthem on that Wednesday.

    That figure was a sharp contrast to what normally played out anytime Osinbajo was presiding over FEC when the President was outside the country.

    Apart from special FEC meetings to prepare for annual Federal Government budget before the document is sent to the National Assembly for consideration, many ministers were believed to always find one reason or the other to stay away from such FEC meetings chaired by Osinbajo.

    Some ministers not listed to be on trip with the President when he embarks on official engagements abroad were also mostly unaccounted for during Osinbajo led-FEC meetings.

    They had their field days last year when Osinbajo was Acting President for some months when the President was on medical vacation in London.

    But Osinbajo’s new no nonsense stance  was again re-echoed as Acting President last week Tuesday, 14th August, 2018.

    He ordered immediate overhaul of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.

    A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, reads: “Following persistent complaints and reports on the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that border on allegations of human rights violations, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to, with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any Unit that will emerge from the process, will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.

    “The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging Unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.

    “The operatives should also bear proper identification anytime they are on duty.

    “In the meantime, the Acting President has directed the National Human Rights Commission to set up a Special Panel that will conduct an investigation of the alleged unlawful activities of SARS in order to afford members of the general public the opportunity to present their grievances with a view to ensuring redress,” he stated

    That order again came a day before the next FEC meeting of 15th August 2018.

    Directly or indirectly responding to the new developments, the attendance at the commencement of the FEC meeting on 15th August again improved over the FEC meeting of 8th of August, 2018.

    Twenty-eight ministers were in attendance when the last FEC meeting started.

    The ministers who were in the Council chamber during rendition of the National anthem at the opening ceremony of FEC last Wednesday included Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Minister of State for Health, Minister of Water Resources.

    Others were Minister of Women Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Power, Works and Housing and the two minister of State in the ministry.

    Also in attendance were Minister of State for Agriculture, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Minister of State for Education, Minister of Information.

    Others included Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Minister of Science and Technology, Minister of Trade and Investment.

    Also at the Council chamber at the commencement of the meeting were Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Minister of Sports, Minister of Finance.

    Others were Minister of Labour, Minister of State for Environment, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Communication, Minister of Federal Capital Territory.

    Also at the meeting were the Minister of State for Aviation and Minister of State for Labour.

    With the new trend and the ministers turn up, almost 100% attendance (with the exception of the President who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources and former Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed) would have been achieved if Osinbajo had more time to remain as Acting President.

    The Osinbajo led National Economic Council (NEC) meeting last Thursday also decided to set up a committee headed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to decentralize Police operations towards tackling insecurity in the country.

    The frequent news of killings in parts of the country also somehow reduced drastically during the 10-working days.

    With the President back in the country, it is hoped that the new momentum and order will be sustained.

    • This piece waas billed for publication last week