Official Twitter Account of the Department of State Services (DSS)
DSS HQ, Abuja, Nigeria
Joined February 2023
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PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS YUSUF BICHI CHAIRMAN GOVERNING BOARD OF NISS
The Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR has approved the appointment of Y. M. Bichi, CFR, fwc, the immediate past Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), as Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Lower Usuma Dam, Abuja.
Bichi's appointment was approved by President Tinubu based on the recommendation of the current DG-DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.
His appointment, is for an initial four year term, effective 22nd October, 2026 in accordance with Section 4 of the National Institute for Security Studies (Establishment) Act, 2019.
Bichi, who will succeed A.A. Gadzama, OFR, mni, on the Governing Board, handed over leadership of the DSS to the incumbent Director-General in August 2024.
The former DG began his career in the Security Division of the Kano State Cabinet Office before his transfer of service in 1984.
Bichi's appointment to Chair the NISS Board brings an extensive experience in intelligence, security administration, operational leadership and institutional training to the governance of the National Institute.
Lilian Omo-Odigwe
Director Cordination and Liaison
NISS
22 October, 2026.
RE: DETENTION OF ZAINAB SODIQ 'f'
The Department of State Services (DSS) confirms detention of one Zainab Sodiq at its National Headquarters, Abuja. Subject was intercepted by FAAN AVSEC and operatives of DSS at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on July 6, 2026 with an Unmaned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) enroute Abuja from MMIA border control without an 'End User Certificate' (EUC).
It is to be noted that, in compliance with National Security Adviser (NSA), Extant Regulations, which placed restrictions on acquisition and use of drones, Sodiq was intercepted while trying to board a flight to Abuja. When confronted, she admitted to not being in possession of the required documents.
Following due process, Sodiq was allowed to board her scheduled flight in view of a prior engagement in Abuja. She was, however, directed to report on Wednesday, 8 July, for the continuation of the investigation.
In further compliance with the NSA extant rules which conveys on the Service, powers to impound and sanction any individual or cooperate entity operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS)/Drones in any part of the country without authorization, Service investigation has commenced. This action is necessitated by global and domestic security concerns associated with operation of drones, especially issues of privacy breaches and safety of individuals.
To this end, the Service reaffirms its commitment to professionalism and adherence to Rule of Law.
Favour Dozie
Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications
National Headquarters, State Services.
Abuja
July 9, 2026
RE: 'REMAND' OF OMOYELE SOWORE
The Department of State Services (DSS) has noted concerns of some citizens over events at a Federal High Court in Abuja on 22nd June 2026, leading to the remand of Omoyele Sowore in Kuje Prison. Of more concern, is the scene depicting Sowore's altercation with an official of Custodial Center and a seeming scuffle with operatives of the Service. Although at the end of the saga, he curiously opted for a DSS vehicle instead of that of the Correctional Service, the Director General has ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged conduct of Service operatives involved in the incident. Notwithstanding, it is expedient to set the records straight.
On 25th August 2025, Omoyele Sowore, made a post on his personal X and Facebook handles, wherein he stated "this criminal actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE CORRUPTION in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly." Thus, disparaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and embelishing his statement. Rather than resort to arrest, the Service, in a letter dated 4th September, 2025 demanded a retraction within one week. This is in line with the practice of the current DG-DSS to resolve such issues without use of force, failure to which it may resort to judicial interpretation.
Specifically, in the case of Prof. Pat Utomi's Shadow Government, the Service sought a judicial explanation even without any arrest or invitation. The Federal High Court thereafter declared the Shadow Government unconstitutional. Also, the false publications on Lagos State House of Assembly invasion by Service operatives and a similar report by Order Paper, alleging a barricade of the National Assembly Complex, the Service demanded a public apology rather than apprehend anyone in both instances. It is on record that, DSS withdrew all charges immediately after the defaulting media houses made a redress.
In the same vein, two Service operatives sought judicial redress and won their cases against SERAP for defamation and libel on their false alarm of an invasion by the said operatives. In this case also, the Court delivered judgment in favour of the said operatives. In all these, the Service maintained its hygiene and adherence to rule of law.
Therefore, in line with SSS Instrument No. 1 of 1999, made pursuant to NSA Act of 1986, the Service filed charges against Sowore for contravening section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024 in a suit FHC/ABJ/CR/481/2025 seeking a judicial interpretation of his right or otherwise to disparage and cyberbully the President. The public may wish to note that, Sowore was granted bail on self-recognition even without a surety at the commemcement of the trial, a position the Service did not oppose and even Sowore applauded the development.
From the foregoing, it is clear the issues that led to his bail revocation and subsequent remand were entirely premised on the court processes, as the Service neither arrested nor opposed his bail. DSS therefore assures of sustained priority to professionalism, with emphasis on civility in its operations, even at the face of provocation.
Favour Dozie
Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications
National Headquarters, State Services.
Abuja
June 23, 2026
RE: ARREST OF PROFESSOR OKEY NDIBE- SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT
The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby clarifies that, it did not arrest or detain Prof Okey Ndibe at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on June 1, 2026 or any other place on that date for that matter.
The current DG of the Service, upon assumption of duty, directed a review of old Watch-List Actions (WLAs), some of which date back to the Military Era. This is to ensure that citizens are not unduly embarrassed due to pre-existing WLAs.
In this regard, all those who had previously been watchlisted while on transit, are routinely interfaced with as a prerequisite for a review and possible downgrade of the Action. This, being a precursor to a final delisting in accordance with international best practices. It is pertinent to state that the foregoing process is aimed at ensuring that before the final delisting, that activities, travel histories as well as current activities of these individuals are not in furtherance of and do not still conform with the reasons for the initial WLA.
Suffice to point out that since the inception of the current Management , many Nigerians, including journalists have benefited from this process. This is despite the fact that the Service conducts this clearance to take care of Watch List requests from other Agencies. A case in point is that of Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, IPC, whose delisting was approved in May 2025, after over a decade on the Watchlist.
In the same vein, Prof Ndibe has been on Watchlist since January 29, 2013. Meanwhile, his case has been reviewed and downgraded. Thus, the interface with him at the airport, was geared towards the final delisting of his details from the Action. As part of the routine interface involved in the process, after barely an hour of his interaction with the Service, he was cleared and escorted. Note that, even on his Facebook post, he referenced the professional, courteous and decorous conduct of Service operatives, who continue to scale their respect for the rule of law and human rights under the new Leadership.
The Service reiterates that this process will continue to ensure that all Nigerians are fairly treated, with due regard to the provisions of the Law.
The DSS therefore urges citizens affected by the Service WLA, who wish, to formally report same to the National Headquarters to facilitate ongoing process. However, regardless of any formal request, the attempt at hygiene regarding the WLA, will be sustained.
Favour Dozie
Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications
National Headquarters, State Services
June 2, 2026
RE: DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST SERAP
The attention of Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to several publications, in reaction to above case and attendant judgment delivered in favour of two officials of ours who instituted the litigation. Some of these publications, have not put the matter in proper perspective.
The Service hereby reiterates that, the suit was not between DSS as an organisation and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). Rather, it was a case filed by two of our operatives, who in the course of their lawful duty, felt defamed by SERAP, claiming that they, on September 9, 2024,
unlawfully invaded their Abuja office and harassed their staff.
An investigation into the claims by SERAP against the operatives was immediately initiated. Following the outcome of the investigation, the said operatives felt the need to seek redress in their personal capacity, and subsequently sought and obtained the approval of the Director-General, State Services, to approach the Court. The Court granted their reliefs and awarded the sum of N100m to the duo. In addition, the Court ordered
SERAP to issue an apology on its website, as well as in Punch and Vanguard newspapers. The apology is also to run on Arise and Channels TV stations. The court added that the N100 million awarded to the operatives as general damages shall attract a 10% interest rate per annum from May 5, 2026, until the sum is fully paid.
As an Agency, DSS has an obligation to protect its staff who carry out their duties in a lawful manner. At the same time, sanction erring operatives found to have breached the Nigerian Laws and our extant regulations. We have demonstrated this time and again by prosecuting some of our staff for various offenses in competent courts.
As such, the Service expresses happiness over the remedy to the injustice SERAP did to its officers.
Importantly, the Service reaffirms its commitment to professionalism and the rule of law.
Favour Dozie
Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications
National Headquarters, State Services
Abuja.
May 6, 2026
💥DISCLAIMER💥
💥ONYIA MARY ANN SOMTOCHUKWU💥
The Department of State Services (DSS) officially confirms that the said individual is not its staff as there is no record of her enrollment in the Service, please.
@OfficialDSSNG I almost lost my aged grand mother and my uncle who's asthmatic due to the tear gas she sprayed.She is based in Abuja.I'm reporting this to DG of DSS to look into this case of attempted murder which some' DSS staff", has aided.i won't rest until justice is served
*DSS Dismisses 115 Personnel*
As part of the ongoing reforms in the Department of State Services (DSS), the public is hereby informed that a total of 115 personnel have been dismissed over a period.
In addition to earlier disclaimers on the duo of Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, the Service finds it necessary to warn citizens of the fraudulent activities of some of these persons still posing as DSS personnel.
Members of the public are therefore advised to desist from any official dealing with these individuals who have been dismissed by the Service.
For clarity, the identities of the affected persons have been published on the website of the Service (dss.gov.ng/media/more/4).
For requests, enquiries or complaints, the Service can be reached on 09088373515, or via email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Recall that the Department of State Services (DSS) recently issued disclaimers on two dismissed personnel of the Service, Barry DONALD and Victor Onyedikachi GODWIN. These individuals were alleged to be cloaking under the Service to engage in fraudulent activities. The public is hereby notified that these culprits have been apprehended and will face prosecution in accordance with the law.
The Service has further resolved to publish the names of other personnel, who were dismissed in the past, to prevent citizens from falling victim of possible criminal intent of any of these individuals.
For requests, enquiries, or complaints, the Service can be reached on 09088373515 or via email: [email protected]
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DISCLAIMER
VICTOR ONYEDIKACHI GODWIN
The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby alerts members of the public of the activities of one Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, a dismissed staff. He is reportedly engaging in unscrupulous activities, including using the name of the Service to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Members of the public are therefore advised to desist from any dealings with him. For requests, enquiries or complaints the Service can be reached on 09088373515 or via email: [email protected]
DISCLAIMER
VICTOR ONYEDIKACHI GODWIN
The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby alerts members of the public of the activities of one Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, a dismissed staff. He is reportedly engaging in unscrupulous activities, including using the name of the Service to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Members of the public are therefore advised to desist from any dealings with him. For requests, enquiries or complaints the Service can be reached on 09088373515 or via email: [email protected]
DISCLAIMER
BARRY DONALD
The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby alerts members of the public of the activities of one Barry Donald, a dismissed staff. He is reportedly engaging in unscrupulous activities, including using the name of the Service to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Members of the public are therefore advised to desist from any dealings with him. For requests, enquiries or complaints the Service can be reached on 09088373515 or via email: [email protected]
6th September, 2025
The Chairman and CEO X Corp. Bastrop County,
Texas USA Email: [email protected]
RE: MISLEADING INFORMATION AND WILLFUL, INTENTION TO
FURTHERING AN IDEOLOGY CAPABLE OF SERIOUS HARM,
INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE, CYBER CRIME, HATE SPEECH TO DISCREDIT/DISPARAGE THE PRESIDENT O F THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND CAUSE SERIOUS THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.
DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE AND URGENT BAN/DEACTIVATION OF AN X ACCOUNT OWNED BY OMOYELE SOWORE THROUGH HIS VERIFIED X HANDLE @sowore OR ANY OTHER X ACCOUNT
MAINTAINED BY HIM.
We detected and monitored with dismay and consternation a widely condemned publication/trending Tweet by Omoyele Sowore on his X official handle page
@sowore on 25th August, 2025 about 11:38 PM local time (2338 hours) WAT disparaging and ridiculing the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Tweet read:
"This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is
NO MORE corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie
shamelessly!"
Those words were personally directed at Mr. President through his official
communication channel @officialABAT which is the known X handle of the
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The said tweet is herewith attached
and will be referenced on herein for emphasis and necessary action.
The said tweet is still in circulation and has attracted widespread condemnation by
majority of Nigerians, some of whom may resort to unwholesome activities to vent
their grievance over it, especially supporters of the President who have started
taking to the streets in protest, thereby creating political tension and threatening the
country's national security. This is in addition to the disparaging effect the tweet has on the reputation of Mr. President and the country before the comity of nations.
The tweet under reference is against the transparency on X and Government has
frowned at it and found it extremely dangerous, false, privacy violation behavior
that manipulate and negatively impacts on the person of the President and the Country.
It is pertinent to bring to your knowledge that under the Nigerian Law, these quoted tweets/words constitute offence punishable in Section 51 of the Criminal Code Act Cap.77 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, which prohibits publication of false information; Sections 19,22 and 24 of the Cyber Crimes Act 2025 which
prohibits and makes it an offence to spread fake news or publishing content that is
deliberately misleading or deceptive, posting content that is rude, vulgar, offensive,
or indecent, especially with the intent to embarrass or humiliate others, provoke ethnic, religious, or tribal hatred through online or offline statements; amounting to
domestic terrorism. The Law also makes the offender and the medium through which the offence is perpetrated/propagated culpable and criminally liable too. The
author and purveyor of the inflammatory online publication against Mr. President is very much aware that the publication is also prohibited by Section 2(3) of the
Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and other relevant Laws of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is not in doubt that the words employed by Mr. Omoyele Sowore is misleading
information, online harassment and abuse, willful
intention of furthering an ideology capable of serious harm, hate speech, cause
disunity, discredit/disparage the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria within the Comity of Nations to damage the image of Nigeria and cause serious threat to national security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is against the above highlighted backdrop that we make an immediate and urgent demand on your Corporation to as a matter of its own policy, immediately TAKE DOWN the tweet and its attendant re-tweets.
This demand is unequivocal with its attendant consequence. Should you fail, neglect and refuse to comply with the command in this notice, the Federal Government will be compelled to take far-reaching, sweeping and across-the-board measures through our Organization, whose mandate covers such criminal acts.
In the light of the above having been made official to you, 24 hours is sufficient enough to take necessary action.
Yours Faithfully
B. Bamigboye, fsi
For: Director General State Services.
DISCLAIMER!!!
THE PUBLIC IS ADVISED TO IGNORE ANY MISLEADING OR FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICE'S RECRUITMENT PROCESS. DISREGARD SUCH CLAIMS, PLEASE.
DISCLAIMER!!!
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED TO DISREGARD FALSE INFORMATION REGARDING THE CONDUCT OF A RECRUITMENT EXERCISE BY THE SERVICE, PLEASE.
THIS IS TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KINDLY DISREGARD ANY NOTICE OF RECRUITMENT IN THE DSS, PLEASE.
NEW DGSS ASSUMES OFFICE
The newly appointed Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, MON assumed office on 28th August, 2024. He was warmly received by the immediate past DGSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, CFR, fwc, who briefed him on related issues. Both of them recalled moments that they worked together in the past and reflected on the respect and admiration they have for each other. The two of them later addressed Management and Staff of the Service.
While the outgone DG urged all to cooperate with the new one to enable him succeed in the task ahead, Mr Ajayi harped on unity of purpose among staff and enjoined them to remain disciplined and professional in the discharge of their duties. Mr Ajayi assured that he would work with relevant stakeholders with utmost commitment and deep sense of responsibility so as to surmount challenges confronting Nigeria’s economic, political and security environments. The objective, according to him, is to achieve peace and stability necessary for development.
Highlight of the occasion was the handing over of the Service flag and other insignias of office by the former DG to the new one. Afterwards, Mr Ajayi took a tour of the National Headquarters during which he visited some sections and encouraged staff on duty to remain vigilant, resourceful, dedicated and loyal to the Service, constituted authorities and Nigeria at large. INSTRUCTIVELY, THE DGSS PLEDGED TO REFOCUS THE SERVICE TOWARDS COVERTNESS AND LIKELIHOOD OF STUDIED SILENCE OVER CERTAIN MATTERS.
Peter Afunanya, Ph.D, fsi, mnipr
Director of PR and Strategic Communications
Department of State Services
National Headquarters, Abuja
29thAugust, 2024
DSS GETS NEW DG
The President, Commander-in-Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has appointed Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, MON as the Director General, Department of State Services.
Mr Ajayi is a thoroughbred and versatile Intelligence Officer. Recruited into the Service in 1990 as a cadet officer, the new DG has received several trainings in diverse areas of management, security leadership, critical thinking, human resources among others from within and outside the country. He has also held many Command positions including State Director of Security (SDS) at Rivers, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Enugu and Kogi States.
Mr Ajayi is diligent, resilient, urbane, proactive and analytic. He comes to his new position with experience, capacity and immense goodwill.
While wishing the outgone DGSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi CFR fwc success in his future endeavours, Management and Staff of the Service welcome the new DG and assure him of their cooperation, support and loyalty.
Peter Afunanya Ph.D fsi mnipr
Director PR and Strategic Communications
Department of State Services, National Headquarters Abuja
26th August, 2024