EXPRESSO>> By Steve Osuji
What really does the DSS do? Time is now to deeply reflect upon and interrogate the duties and essence of the Department of State Security and indeed, all other so-called INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES in Nigeria’s security firmaments.
Bodies like the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) and all such secret security departments in the police, army, air force, navy, etc. What exactly are their reasons for existence?
The DSS as we know it, is the chief security and intelligence agency in Nigeria. Its primary duties are to gather intelligence, detect, and prevent crimes against the state.
It is an elaborate behemoth with offices across all states and LGAs in Nigeria. It also has the capacity and ability to enjoy limitless access to every nook and cranny of the country.
It reports directly to the president and it’s budget is not subjected to public debate.
Why then is Nigeria one of the most unsecured and insecure countries in the world?
Since 2009 – for over 17 years, has been under the grips of the worst kind of terror scourge. Banditry, abductions, mass killings and all manner of organised crimes have become rampant and surging year on year.
The DSS surely has questions to answer. Is it a matter of structure, poor budgets, incompetent leadership? We must find out now why the DSS is no longer functional, why it no longer serve the purposes for which it was founded.
A COUNTRY BEREFT OF INTELLIGENCE: Non-State Terror Rages On:
With improved technology, it is expected that the DSS would be more proactive in detecting and preventing criminals in our midst. No terror cell, no criminal groups should exist for 30 days in any corner of Nigeria without being discovered and neutralised before they have carried out any dark activities.
But nigh everyday, terrorists and all manner of criminal groups operate freely in our villages towns and even cities!
Just two days ago, in Challenge, Ibadan, the sister of former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu and her twin children were abducted in the early hours of the morning. And the criminals vanished into thin air with their catch. Challenge is the heart of that sprawling, bustling city of Ibadan in South West Nigeria. How could that happen? It suggests that there’s no security cover of any sort in that city. It’s the same manner brazen crimes have been committed in cities like Kaduna, Port-Harcourt, Maiduguri, Owerri, and even Abuja, to name a few. Most were never resolved.
Last January, Ms Mediatrix Nwamaka Chigbo was abducted and murdered in Abuja. The case has remained unresolved till today.
Two weeks ago, over 40 pupils and their teachers were abducted I Orire LGA of Oyo State. They are still in captivity with their captors sharing pictures of the larcerated backs of the little children to the whole world. It is said that the Ansaru terror group have owned up to this kidnap.
How come terror groups like Ansaru, ISIS, Lakurawa, ISWAP and Boko Haram are co- habiting with us and operating freely in Nigeria without the DSS preempting them or getting the better of them?
DSS STANDS INDICTED: Almost exactly one year ago, terrorists exacted a night massacre in Yelwata village, Guma LGA of Benue State. About 200 Christians were killed. But more remarkably, the murderers reportedly gave notice of their coming. This was also reported to all the security agencies including the DSS as we learnt.
But as has happened many times before, there was no response. No attempt to preempt or even stem the attack. Nigerians, innocent, Christian Nigerians who committed no crimes were savaged in that night of bloodbath.
With the spate of insecurity plaguing Nigeria currently, the dire situation this scourge has placed our country and people; the severe economic damage, hundreds of thousands of displaced compatriots and hundreds (including children) of currently held hostages in our forests, the DSS stands indicted and must be reimagined now!
DSS is endued with the capacities of wide ranging surveillance, stealth monitoring and covert operations, among others. These capacities are not being deployed to sanitize the country and keep it safe for the citizenry.
Most neighbouring countries like Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana and even Togo next door are not terror-ravaged like Nigeria. Why is terror thriving in Nigeria? And why is the DSS almost moribund and comatose all these years of raging crimes and terror? Let us rethink our intelligence and secret service systems.
LASTLINE: TINUBU’S BABA SOPE DEMOCRACY
What’s going on in Nigeria currently is definitely not democracy. The ongoing primary elections especially in the ruling APC is mere imposition of candidates.
Overriding godfatherism may be the legacy Tinubu is leaving behind for Nigeria.
Primary elections which used to be keenly contested is now a charade. The President and his governors are the ones handpicking candidates for both governorship and the legislature. Take the Lagos example. There’s no contest, no plurality and no opportunity for the people of Lagos to make a choice or an input.
With President Bola Tinubu, it’s really a sad time for democracy in Nigeria. It’s BABA SOPE DEMOCRACY!
