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2023: We’ll arrest, cage terrorists, bandits, kidnapping sponsors before elections –DSS

Published

3 years ago

September 16, 2022

The Department of State Services (DSS) have vowed to cage all religious, political and tribal leaders and groups responsible for the insecurity ravaging the country before the 2023 general elections.

Specifically, the DSS said it would go after those perceived to be sponsoring terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the country, irrespective of their political, religious and public status.

Already, the service said it has collated the data of such persons, in readiness to effect their arrest any moment from now. The move, according to the Director General, DSS, Mohammed Yusuf Bichi, is to pave the way for a smooth, free, fair and safe conduct of the 2023 general elections in the country. He said they would not be allowed to escape as they are being monitored on a 24-hour basis.

Bichi made the disclosure at a ceremony organised by staff of the organisation to mark his four years in office, unveiling of a book written in his honour and the renewal of another four-year term in office by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Service headquarters, on Wednesday night.

The book, A Compendium of YM Bichi’s Legacy at the DSS, was written by the Public Relations Officer, Dr Peter Afunanya, to record successes and achievements of the DG during his first four years (2018-2022) in office.

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The DG, while listing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes as some of the insecurity challenges bedevilling the country, said the service would no longer fold its arms to watch those perpetrating these evils to move about and carry on with their deadly activities.

He said the DSS, who the military, the police, the various security agencies and, indeed, the general public rely on for intelligence, is working round the clock, to get all criminals and their sponsors out of the way before the 2023 general elections.

Bichi said the agency was more than ever well equipped with state-of-the-art technological equipment and manpower and has undergone various training within and outside the country, to render the services which it was established for.

He said in the coming days, weeks and months, Nigerians would get to know those who have been championing the insecurity in the country, using religion and other dubious means as cover to perpetrate their evil acts, to the detriments of innocent and law abiding citizens. He said these sets of people would not be allowed to escape as they were being monitored 24 hours.

The DG, while noting the task before the service as enormous, given the security challenges in the country, however, pointed out that with the level of manpower and technology the service has acquired in the last few years, the task was surmountable.

Bichi, who thanked president Buhari for appointing him for a second term in office, said: “I thank the president for finding me worthy of serving once again. With this, I am fully aware, and you should also know that the task before us is quite enormous and challenging, but we have to navigate. Our operations definitely will be driven by technology, by professionals and with commitment.

“And I have to tell you that we are up to the task and committed to address the security challenges facing the country. All the services rely on us and we are not going to fail them. It is a commitment.

“Definitely, in the next couple of days, weeks or months, all those responsible for all these insecurity will definitely be rounded up and they will never escape.

“We started from these years compiling, analysing and building our data on people who definitely want to undermine the security of this nation or even our democracy. And we are not going to allow that to happen. We took that resolve and we are going to do it. And when we say we are going to do it, everybody knows that once this service says that they are going to do it, they will surely do it.

“Recently, people thought that Igboho would never be arrested by any security agency, but we told them that you can say that to the marines, not to this service. Once we want to deal with you, we deal with you, but in a fair manner and justice. So, justice and fairness will guide us.”

He thanked personnel of the organisation for their commitment and cooperation over the years, and promised to take the service to a greater height in his second tenure. He also thanked the public relations officer, Dr Afunaya, for the publication of the book.

Sun

Related Topics:Bandits DSS Election Featured Kidnapping Terrorists

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Six Feared Dead as Passenger Boat Crashes on Lagos Waterway, Four Rescued

Published

4 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

15 Rescued As Boat Crash Kill Two In Lagos

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Six Feared Dead as Passenger Boat Crashes on Lagos Waterway, Four Rescued

No fewer than six passengers have been confirmed dead, while four others were rescued, following a boat accident on the Nigerdock axis of the Igbologun Water Channel in Lagos State on Tuesday night.

The tragic incident was confirmed in a joint statement issued on Wednesday by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

According to the statement, signed by LASWA Head of Public Affairs, Wuraola Alake, and NIWA Lagos Area Office Head of Corporate Affairs, Omowunmi Yussuff, the accident occurred at about 8:35 p.m. and involved a Savvy Marine passenger boat travelling from Ilashe Beach House.

The agencies said the boat ran into difficulty while navigating the channel, prompting an immediate distress alert that led to the deployment of emergency response teams, working in collaboration with the Marine Police and other first responders.

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“As of the time of this report, four passengers have been successfully rescued and taken to a nearby hospital, where they are receiving medical attention. Sadly, six other passengers were recovered dead at the scene. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing to account for all persons on board,” the statement said.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the vessel may have collided with a submerged object, although authorities noted that a comprehensive investigation is underway to establish the exact cause of the accident.

LASWA and NIWA expressed deep condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring safety on Lagos inland waterways.

The agencies also urged waterway users to strictly adhere to safety regulations, including proper navigation procedures and compliance with the night travel rule, while advising members of the public to rely only on verified information from official sources.

Six Feared Dead as Passenger Boat Crashes on Lagos Waterway, Four Rescued

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MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

Published

6 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor

MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has condemned in strong terms an alarming audio recording circulating on social media that allegedly calls for violence against Igbo Muslims, describing it as hate speech and a direct incitement to criminality.

The audio, which gained widespread attention on TikTok, is attributed to Mazi Kanayo and reportedly urges members of the Igbo ethnic group to abduct, brutalize, and eliminate fellow Igbos who practice Islam, while falsely accusing them of abandoning their faith for material gain.

In a statement released on Wednesday, MPAC Executive Chairman Disu Kamor warned that such rhetoric poses a serious threat to public safety and undermines Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of life, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence.

“History has repeatedly shown that genocidal rhetoric does not start with violence—it begins with words left unchecked, unchallenged, and unpunished,” the statement read.

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MPAC urged security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), to investigate the origin and circulation of the audio and ensure that all those responsible are identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The group also called on regulatory authorities and social media platforms to take swift action to curb the spread of content that promotes hatred or threatens communal harmony, and asked political, community, and religious leaders—particularly in the South-East—to publicly denounce the incitement to violence and reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence.

MPAC stressed that freedom of expression does not include incitement to murder, ethnic cleansing, or religious persecution, urging Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and stand against attempts to weaponize ethnicity or religion.

“The security of one group is inseparable from the security of all,” the statement emphasized.

The organization confirmed it will continue engaging authorities and monitoring the situation to ensure that the dangerous rhetoric is addressed before it escalates into violence.

MPAC Condemns Threats Against Igbo Muslims, Calls for Immediate Security Action

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MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

Published

8 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Calls for Arrest of Maazi Kanayo Over Alleged Threats to Igbo Muslims

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Nigerian security agencies to arrest and prosecute Maazi Kanayo for allegedly inciting the Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria to kidnap and kill Igbo Muslims.

The call was made in a statement released on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola. According to the organization, a viral audio clip showed Kanayo allegedly instructing potential kidnappers and attackers to target Muslims of Igbo extraction living in Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo States.

“Maazi Kanayo specifically directed his potential kidnappers and killers to target Muslims of Igbo extraction. This is the last thing Nigeria needs at a time when the country faces serious insecurity,” the statement said.

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MURIC described the threats as extremely dangerous, warning that the audio could put thousands of Igbo Muslims’ lives at risk, including some who hold positions as traditional rulers, potentially triggering communal tensions in the South East.

“Every minute counts as the lives of thousands of people hang in the balance,” Professor Akintola said, urging the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police to take immediate action against Kanayo.

MURIC emphasized that the threats were directed at individuals simply for embracing Islam, framing the issue as a grave human rights and security concern. The organization called on the public to remain vigilant and support security agencies in protecting at-risk communities.

#DSS, #NigeriaPolice, #PlotToKillIgboMuslims, #NoToMuslimGenocide.