Insecurity: Groups Raise eyebrows  over disregard to DSS intelligence reports

By Abdullahi Kano

 A civil society and citizen’s groups coalition named
The Citizens Stability Forum (CSF) has expressed displeasure over what it described as disregard to the intelligence reports given by Department of State Service.

The group, in a statement signed jointly by its lead convener, Muktar Lawan and Co-covener, John Azi and issued to journalists in Kano on Sunday, raises eyebrows on how security agencies such as Military, Police and Paramilitary ignore intelligence security reports provided by the DSS.

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The group noted that flagrant disregard and inaction to secret security reports by the DSS is what led to some major attacks by terrorists in the country.

“Based on all relevant evidence and happenings in the country, it is very clear that the DSS has been playing its role diligently and have been feeding the relevant agencies with intelligence before the occurrence on most of the unfortunate insecurity events that recently occurred. 

“For example, before the Bombing, shooting and Kidnapping incident on the Abuja-Kaduna Train on the 28th of March 2022, the DSS issued a security alert about the suspicious movements and activities of terrorist elements in the vicinity of the rail lines between Rijana and Kateri to both the Military and police as well as the Nigerian Railway Corporation. 

“Unfortunately, the disregard to such critical intelligence by relevant authorities led to the loss of lives of 8 Nigerian citizens, 41 hospitalised and over sixty (60) civilians kidnapped by terrorist,” the statement reads in parts.

“Likewise, before the terrorist attack on Kuje Prison on the 5th of July 2022 where they succeeded in releasing their fellow colleagues. It is on record that the DSS shared 44 intelligence reports relating to this threat with relevant agencies before the attack on the prison.

” This has been proved by remarks from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase who stated that he has went through the report, but unfortunately the relevant agencies failed to act. 

“These are just among the few proofs that found their way to public domain as DSS does not flaunt its operations and activities to the public, rather most operations and activities are classified, and as is the norm for State and Secrete Service departments all over the world,” the statement added.

CSF maitained  that DSS is one of the most important arms of Nigeria’s security setup saddled with critical functions of prevention and detection of any crime/terrorism against the internal security of Nigeria and provision of timely advice to Government on all matters of National security interest among others. 

This function, according to the group,  has made the DSS the fulcrum of intelligence gathering and sharing among sister security agencies. 

“As such when there is inefficiency in collaboration or a lack of synergy with other security agencies the result will be that criminals and terrorist will be having a field day and will be pulling up acts of terrorism that will otherwise be impossible for them,” CSF added.

The group concluded that the commendation and applause received by the DSS is courtesy of the motivation and confidence of its personnel who work tirelessly and diligently to keep