Tag: DSS

DSS captures suspected mastermind of ECWA church kidnap attack

Aminu Imam
DSS captures kidnap suspect

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have taken into custody Shafi’u Usman, who is alleged to have masterminded the December 14, 2015 assault on the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Aiyetoro, Kogi State, during which more than 20 worshippers were abducted. Security sources revealed that Usman was apprehended at a hideout in Gombe State, where he had reportedly been in hiding. During questioning, he allegedly admitted to orchestrating the Ayetoro church attack along with several other kidnapping operations across Niger, Kwara and Kogi states. According to…

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Court adjourns el-Rufa’i’s arraignment to April 23

Aminu Imam
Court adjourns el Rufa'i’s case

The arraignment of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, was stalled yesterday, following his absence in court, with the trial judge, Justice Joyce AbdulMalik, adjourning proceedings to April 23, 2026. At the resumed sitting, prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that although the matter was scheduled for arraignment, the defendant could not be produced, as he was currently in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). He urged the court to adjourn the matter to March 10 to enable the anti-graft agency to…

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Amnesty alleges escalating crackdown on Kano govt. critics 

Aminu Imam
Amnesty alleges escalating crackdown

..Cites many DSS arrests Amnesty International Nigeria has raised the alarm over what it described as an “escalating pattern of repression” in Kano State, alleging that individuals who criticize Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf are being subjected to arrest, detention and intimidation. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, the human rights organisation said it is “deeply concerned by the disturbing patterns of arrest, detention and harassment of persons simply for criticizing or making dissenting commentary” about the governor. The group alleged that in most of the…

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Alleged wiretap: FG to arraign el-Rufa’i on alleged cybercrime, security breach Feb. 25

Aminu Imam
FG to arraign el Rufa'i

The Federal Government will, on February 25, arraign a former governor of Kaduna State and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nasir el-Rufa’i, on alleged cybercrime and breach of national security. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC), Justice John Tsoho, assigned the case to Justice Joyce AbdulMalik, also of the FHC, and fixed the arraignment for the said date. Recall that the Department of State Services (DSS) had on Monday, filed a 3-count criminal charge against the former governor, following his statement on wiretapping the telephone…

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DSS arraigns ex-AGF Malami, son on terrorism financing, firearms charges

Aminu Imam
Malami EFCC

The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday arraigned a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son, AbdulAziz, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. The defendants were docked before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik on a five-count charge bordering on aiding and abetting terrorism financing, engaging in conduct preparatory to acts of terrorism, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Both men pleaded “not guilty’ to all the Counts, when the charges were read to them. According…

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DSS re-arraigns Sowore on amended cyber-stalking charges

Aminu Imam
DSS re arraigns Sowore

…Meta, X dropped Justice Mohammed Umar,  of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has struck out Meta and X as defendants in the amended cyber-bullying charges brought against Omoyele Sowore for calling President Bola Tinubu a ‘criminal’. The presiding judge yesterday struck-out names of the two foreign defendants when Sowore was re-arraigned, and following the request of counsel to the Department of the State Service (DSS), lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) withdrawing them from the new charge. In a short ruling, Justice Umar removed X Corp., the owner of the social…

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Adelabu petitions DSS, Police, accuses Primate Ayodele of ₦150m extortion plot

Aminu Imam
Adelabu Primate Ayodele

Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has accused Primate Elijah Ayodele, has accused the Founder and Head of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, of attempted extortion, blackmail, and using false prophecies to tarnish his public image. Adelabu, who has already declared interest in contesting the 2027 Oyo State governorship election, levelled the allegations in a petition dated October 13, 2025, and addressed to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS). The petition was signed by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji.…

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DSS uncovers IPOB group funded by Simon Ekpa

Aminu Imam
DSS uncovers IPOB

…7 suspects charged to court The Department of State Services, (DSS), has filed terrorism charges against seven persons it says are commanders of the banned separatist group, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB). In a statement issued yesterday, the DSS said the charges were filed on Wednesday against the suspects who “were accused of receiving funds and other material support from Simon Ekpa and other foreign-based members of IPOB”. Ekpa is a Nigerian-Finnish separatist who was arrested in Finland on 21 November 2024 for terrorism-related incitement and, in 2025, sentenced to…

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DSS arrests suspected arms dealer linked to Plateau attacks

Aminu Imam
DSS arrest arms dealer

The Department of State Services, (DSS), says its operatives have disrupted an alleged arms supply network linked to attacks in Plateau State and neighbouring areas, arresting a suspected arms dealer. Disclosing this in a statement yesterday, the DSS said the suspect allegedly manufactured and distributed weapons and ammunition to armed groups operating in Plateau and other northern states. The suspect was nabbed on November 12, 2025, following intelligence that led operatives to his workshop in the Mista Ali area of Bassa local government area of Plateau State. DSS operatives were…

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‘Re- strategise to tackle influx of criminals’ – BoN tasks DSS

Aminu Imam
BoN tasks DSS

The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, (BON), has called on the Nigeria Police and the Department of the State Security (DSS) to re- strategise on how to track the influx of the criminals. Executive Secretary of the body, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose made the call in a statement pointing out that the criminals are running to the urban areas with their weapons after being chased out of their hideout by the military from where they were wreaking havoc on innocent citizens through kidnaping, abduction and cattle rustling. ‘It is obvious that many…

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