Why Federal Government Dismissed 115 DSS Officers

Fresh details have emerged on why the Federal Government dismissed 115 personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to credible security sources, the affected officers were found guilty of offences capable of undermining the integrity and professionalism of the secret police.

The offences reportedly included fraudulent practices, gross indiscipline, certificate forgery, and leakage of classified information.

“Some of them even leaked official information, which is a serious breach,” a senior source said.

Earlier in the week, the DSS announced the dismissal of the officers in a statement on its official X handle, warning members of the public to refrain from engaging in any official dealings with the affected personnel. The service also published their names, photographs, and dates of dismissal.

The decision came just three weeks after two former DSS officers, Barry Donald and Victor Godwin, were arrested for impersonating operatives to defraud unsuspecting citizens.

Internal Cleansing Drive

Multiple insiders confirmed that the move is part of an ongoing internal reform aimed at restoring discipline within the agency.

A senior official disclosed that the Director-General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi, has embarked on a “cleansing exercise” to sanitize the service.

“Some of the dismissed officers had become liabilities, threatening the agency’s integrity. Complaints were received from outside the service, and after investigation, they were found guilty. The DG is determined to restore the DSS to its core values,” the source said.

Some of the dismissed personnel reportedly had pending disciplinary cases before Ajayi assumed office. Others, who had been queried during the tenure of former DG Yusuf Bichi, allegedly repeated similar offences and were dismissed after fresh reviews.

Another insider explained that some officers travelled abroad in search of greener pastures without properly resigning from the service.

“About 15 to 20 per cent of them are already outside the country. They were dismissed for improper resignation. The DG wants to instil stricter discipline and end the culture of impunity,” the source added.

Forgery and Misrepresentation

Investigations also revealed that several of the dismissed officers were found to have used forged documents to secure employment.

A top official said some presented certificates from unaccredited institutions or used religious study certificates as academic qualifications.

“Some used fake birth certificates; others attended schools in Benin Republic for only a few months and presented those as degrees. There were even cases of people using Arabic or mosque certificates as equivalents of university degrees,” the source explained.

He added that the decision to publish their names and photos was to prevent the dismissed operatives from using the DSS identity to commit crimes or defraud the public.

Part of Broader Reforms — Ex-DSS Director

A former DSS Director, Mike Ejiofor, described the mass dismissal as part of ongoing reforms within the service.

“The officers were subjected to disciplinary procedures before the decision was made. It’s an administrative matter aimed at strengthening internal discipline,” Ejiofor said.

Security Expert Faults Publication of Officers’ Photos

Security analyst Kabir Adamu, Managing Director of Beacon Consulting Limited, criticised the DSS for publicly releasing the identities of the dismissed personnel, describing the move as a breach of counter-espionage principles.

“Publishing their names and photos exposes them to danger and contradicts the principle of counter-espionage,” Adamu said.

He warned that the dismissed operatives could become targets for revenge attacks or recruitment by hostile foreign agencies and non-state armed groups.

“Some of them participated in covert operations that led to arrests. Exposing them publicly removes their protection and makes them vulnerable. It also risks them being exploited or recruited by foreign intelligence networks,” he cautioned.

Adamu added that the dismissed officers may now struggle to reintegrate into society.

“They may find it impossible to secure employment again. Their lives have effectively been ruined. While dismissal for wrongdoing is understandable, public exposure of their identities was unnecessary and risky,” he said.