₦airaland Forum

By Augustine Aminu

On Friday, May 15, 2026, the world was jolted by news of the killing of the top commander of the Islamic State's West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abour Mainok, and several other fighters. Also known as Abu Bilal al-Minuki, and considered the second-in-command of ISIL (ISIS) globally, the top terrorist commander was reportedly killed during a joint Nigeria-U.S. counter-terrorism operation in Metele, Borno State.

Ever since the elimination of al-Minuki, considered one of the biggest blows in recent times to terrorists in the world over, torrents of encomium have been pouring in for the Nigerian-U.S. joint terrorism operations.

Posting on his Truth Social handle, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote, "Brave American forces ⁠and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield."
Al-Minuki, added President Trump, “thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had ‌sources ⁠who kept us informed on what he was doing."
On his part, President Bola Tinubu stated that both countries had “recorded a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism."

Early assessments indicate that al-Minuki, along with “several of his lieutenants,” was killed during a strike on his compound in Metele, Borno State," Tinubu said.

“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,” he added. “I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort," he added.

A few days after President Trump praised Nigerian intelligence services for helping to hunt down Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a man he described as "the most active terrorist in the world," US Air Force General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, also spoke glowingly of Nigeria's intelligence services.

Remarked Anderson, "The Nigerians have been instrumental throughout the last several months, developing the target, helping us with the intelligence, and providing support. So, it could not have been done by our own forces. We needed to do that in conjunction with them."

Security sources who analyzed President Trump's terse statement, alongside that of the head of AFRICOM, General Anderson, were quick to point out that the "sources" who kept the United States and Nigerian Armed Forces informed of the movements of al-Minuki and his fighters may be none other than Nigeria's intelligence agencies: the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Interestingly, six days before al-Minuki's elimination, something crucial to the fight against terrorism happened in one north-central town, well over 1,100 kilometers away from Metele, Borno State, where al-Minuki and over 175 of his fighters would meet their Waterloo.

Just as DSS, NIA, and DIA operatives were helping US and Nigerian troops monitor the movement of Al-Minuki and his fighters around the Lake Chad region, a set of DSS operatives covertly captured a notorious leader of one of ISWAP's critical cells in Nigeria. His name is Abdulrahman Ozovieh Muhammad alias Abu Ghozi.

Abu Ghozi, security sources believe, masterminded the December 2020 attack on a military checkpoint in Okene, killing two naval personnel and carting away their weapons.

Additionally, Abu Ghozi is believed to have masterminded the 11th March, 2021 bank robbery at Okuku, in Oda-Atin LGA of Osun State, and carried out several attacks on police formations in Okene, Okehi, and Adavi LGAs. He didn't spare security checkpoints along Okene-Auchi, Okene-Kabba, and Okene-Ajaokuta roads.

Also believed to be behind several kidnaps, including the October 2025 kidnap of a Chinese national in Okpella, Edo State, during which eight personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) were killed, is Abu Ghozi.

In January, 2026, his group reportedly attacked and burnt down the house of the Chief Priest at the Uhodo area of Okehi LGA. Members of his suspected terrorist group were, before his arrest by the DSS, reportedly set to attack detention facilities in Kainji and Abuja to release detained members of their group.

Security sources believe that Abu Ghozi's capture by DSS officers may have greatly helped the Nigerian Intelligence Services (DSS, NIA, and DIA) gather further intelligence that was ultimately used to nail al-Minuki and his fighters six days later in faraway Metele, Borno State.
No doubt, Nigeria's intelligence community and their military counterpart again proved very invaluable to the recent successes in the global fight against terrorism and helped position Nigeria as a very trusted ally in the fight against terrorism.

For the first time since Nigeria began fighting terrorism circa 2010, the country has now fully turned the heat on terrorists, smoking them. out on a daily basis. The recent successes recorded show that with our Armed Forces increasingly relying on the intelligence supplied by the DSS, NIA, and DIA, Nigeria will sooner than later overcome her security challenges.

Aminu has been an online editor of several newspapers and lives in Abuja.

Source: https://vigil360.com.ng

*Lauds DSS' Treatment of Client.
*Court Sets May 25 for Continuation of Trial

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to social media commentator Justice Chidiebere, popularly known as "Justice Crack," in the sum of five million naira (₦5,000,000), with one surety in the like sum. The bail was secured through his new lawyer, Sam Amadi.
Sowore's lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, whom Crack had debriefed, was visibly absent throughout the sitting.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, while ruling on the bail application, imposed a number of conditions that had to be satisfied before the bail was perfected.

Aside from requiring that the proposed surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court at a fixed and verifiable address for a minimum of four years, such a surety must deposit proof of residence, either through a tenancy agreement or a Certificate of Occupancy, at the court registry.

The surety was required to be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, with evidence of at least three months of salary payments, a letter of authentication from the immediate head of the department, and proof of pensionable employment. The surety must also depose to an affidavit of means and submit a recent passport photograph to the registry.

As a further condition, the defendant was directed to deposit his international passport with the court pending the determination of the matter.

Earlier in the proceedings, prosecution counsel, M. L. Aboye, informed the court that the prosecution was fully prepared to commence trial. The first prosecution witness, identified as Oronto Douglas, a DSS operative, thereafter took the stand.

The witness told the court that he came to know the defendant in the course of investigations, after he was transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) from the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.
The witness affirmed that the defendant voluntarily made an extrajudicial statement, which was duly recorded in the presence of lawyers from the Legal Aid Council.

According to the witness, some soldiers had sent pictures to the defendant, who allegedly converted the images into videos and posted them on social media without verifying the authenticity of the materials with military sources. He further disclosed that investigators conducted a forensic examination of the defendant's mobile phone, from which they extracted videos allegedly posted online, conversations between the defendant and some soldiers, and chats with a godfather allegedly discussing protests, as well as excerpts from his various social media pages.

The witness added that, upon conclusion of the forensic process, a certificate of compliance was issued and signed by a superior officer.

Thereafter, the defense counsel, Sam Amadi, informed the court that the defense had not been served with the investigation report and other documents the prosecution sought to tender before the court.

The prosecution, in response, described the lapse as an oversight and apologized to the court.

The trial judge subsequently admitted the DSS' investigation report as Exhibit A.

The prosecution further tendered an iPhone allegedly recovered from the defendant, a flash drive said to contain videos posted on various social media platforms, conversations extracted from the device, and the certificate of compliance.
The defence, however, raised a formal objection to the admissibility of the flash drive, arguing that its contents had neither been described nor played before the court for proper evaluation.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter to May 25 for the continuation of the trial.

Source: https://thenaijanews.ng

Human Rights (CDHR) has rapped the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for berating the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over Tuesday's judgement awarding N100 million to two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) defamed by the NGO.
Aside the N100 million awarded for  general damages, Justice Halilu Yusuf ordered SERAP to pay Operatives Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele N1 million as cost of litigation, tender apology in two national newspapers and two television stations, as well as on its website and X handle.
SERAP and persons associated with the NGO have been condemning the judgement, describing it as a "travesty" and an attempt by government to muzzle free speech.
While one senior lawyer and trustee of SERAP, Ebun-Olu Adegborowa alleged that the judgment did not reflect the legal arguments canvassed in the case, the group's Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, described the judgement as strange.
“I’ve been in court several times where I’ve seen even undefended defamation cases that get thrown out because it’s straightforward. You have to prove that the statement was made, you have to prove that it referred to the claimant, you have to prove that it was false, you have to prove that it was published to a third party, and you have to prove damages — how you lowered their reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society," said Oluwadare Thursday on News Central TV.
However, CDHR frowned at SERAP's outbursts, saying it was at variance with the ideals of the  NGO which claims to be championing socio-economic rights and accountability.
Said CDHR, "As a foremost human rights organization committed to the rule of law, constitutionalism, and democratic accountability, CDHR believes that every individual and institution — including civil society organisations — must respect the decisions of competent courts, regardless of personal opinions or institutional interests.
"While citizens and advocacy groups retain the constitutional right to freedom of expression and public criticism, such rights must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of the law. The court, after reviewing the evidence before it, found that the publication made against the DSS operatives was defamatory and injurious to their professional reputation," noted the group, in a statement signed by Comrade Debo Adeniran  and Comrade Deacon Jeremiah Onyibe, President and Secretary Board of Trustees and National Publicity Secretary respectively.
"The rule of law remains the foundation of every democratic society. Human rights advocacy must coexist with accountability, fairness, and respect for due process.
"CDHR reiterates that no organisation, regardless of its status in civil society, is above the law, just as no security agency should be shielded from lawful scrutiny. Justice and responsibility must apply equally to all," stressed the group.

CDHR advised SERAP to "respect the judgment of the court; comply with all lawful directives contained in the judgement pending any appeal, and to refrain from further public statements capable of worsening tensions or undermining judicial authority."
The group also advised SERAP to "allow the legal process run its full course through the appellate system if it remains dissatisfied with the judgment, and to avoid inflammatory narratives capable of deepening institutional distrust or portraying the judiciary as partisan without credible basis."
On its  part, the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) upbraided
SERAP for deriding the judgement of the court. The group's position was contained in a statement signed by its Executive director, Comrade Gbenga Soloki.
Said CAIDOV, "SERAP first made the claim that DSS officers invaded their Abuja office on September 9, 2024. Nearly two years after, and realising that they misrepresented the facts, it is worrying that the tweet is still pinned on their X handle.
"We in the human rights community should lead by example. We should not be seen as the very persons breaching human rights in the name of free speech. Human rights is universal. It is for everybody. We should not trample on the rights of others simply because they chose to be security agents.
"Very big corporations around the world have at one time or the other been caught lying or cheating. Just last year, Deloitte, PwC, & EY Netherlands was fined $8.5 million for cheating. In 2024, KPMG Netherlands was fined
$25 million for widespread cheating on training exams.'What, therefore, is is the big deal in a Nigerian court imposing a N100 million (less than $72,000) fine on SERAP for defamation which is euphemism for lying?"
Continued the group, "Seeing senior lawyers like Ebun-Olu Adegborowa, who ordinarily should be encouraging their clients to appeal judgements, spend time castigating judgements already delivered, leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
"SERAP had nearly two years the matter lasted in court to assemble the best lawyers in their arsenal. They failed to. All their legal luminaries waited until they lost the case, then turned to the media to wage propaganda against two operatives of the DSS.
"It is sad that the same SERAP that has a history of relying on our law courts to hold government agencies and public office holders accountable, is now disparaging the same institution simply because they didn't win this time around.
"If people like Ebun-Olu Adegborowa feel that they know more than our very reverred learned judges, it is not too late for him to transmute from a lawyer to a judge," the group declared.

Source: https://pointblanknews.com/pbn/news/stop-castigating-court-over-n100m-awarded-to-2-dss-staff-cdhr-cautions-serap/

By Tony Asuquo

Seeking redress for reputational damage typically involves civil litigation for defamation (libel or slander), seeking damages for harm to reputation and the attendant emotional distress. In certain instances, financial losses are involved. Victims can pursue legal remedies, including monetary compensation and injunctions to stop further publication. In seeking redress, there is one key ingredient that tends to be glossed over: the assumption that the right to seek redress for reputational damage is exclusive to a particular individual or group of persons. The truth is that this right belongs to all plebians and aristocrats, the poor and the rich. The weak and the powerful. A private citizen can sue a newspaper. A security officer can sue an individual, a group, or a non-governmental organization (NGO). A government official can sue a newspaper or a media house.

The fact that the defendant is a rights organization, a media outlet, or a civil society group does not automatically make the person seeking redress (plaintiff) wrong, nor does it make the defendant right.
When those perceived as powerful in the society seek redress for reputational damage, such action should not and cannot be conceived as an act of intimidation. Victim psychology has no place here.

This principle has, time and again, been tested in courtrooms across the world. The outcomes have been constant. No one, no matter how highly or lowly placed, is above the law. This is what the general public should understand.

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)

To understand modern defamation law, one must begin in Montgomery, Alabama, United States. In 1964, a full-page advertisement placed in The New York Times by civil rights supporters contained several errors about the conduct of local police during protests.

L.B. Sullivan, the city’s police commissioner, sued the Times for libel, arguing that the errors damaged his reputation as a public official. An Alabama jury awarded him $500,000 in damages. The case reached the United States Supreme Court, which unanimously reversed the verdict in a ruling that fundamentally reshaped the relationship between free speech and defamation law.

Justice William J. Brennan Jr., writing for the Court, held that for a public official to succeed in a defamation claim, they must prove that the statement was made with “actual malice," meaning the publisher either knew the statement was false or published it with reckless disregard for whether it was true or false. The Court reasoned that robust debate about public officials was essential to democracy and that the fear of ruinous lawsuits would threaten that debate if the standard were lowered.

Regardless of the Supreme Court ruling, the fact remains that Sullivan was not denied his day in court because he held public office. Although he was held to a higher standard of proof, the ruling did not eliminate the right to seek redress; it calibrated it. The principle that emerged was not “public officials cannot sue” but rather “public officials must prove more.”

FBI Director Kash Patel Vs. Atlantic Magazine

More than six decades after Sullivan, a strikingly parallel case emerged in Washington, D.C. In April 2026, FBI Director Kash Patel filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic magazine and reporter Sarah Fitzpatrick, following the publication of an article alleging that he had alarmed colleagues with episodes of excessive drinking and unexplained absences. And that his personal behavior had become a threat to public safety.

Patel’s lawsuit argues that The Atlantic published the article with actual malice. Crucially, the same legal standard established in Sullivan's case was having been warned before publication that the central allegations were categorically false, yet they were published anyway.

Patel is a public official who believes his reputation was dented by false reporting. Whether he succeeds or not is for the courts to determine. That he has the right to try is not in question.

Nasiru Dani vs. Sahara Reporters

Nigeria already has a settled judicial precedent that speaks directly to this principle, and it deserves far more attention in this conversation than it has received. In October 2024, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja ruled in favor of businessman and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Nasiru Danu in a defamation suit he filed against Sahara Reporters.

The case arose from articles published by Sahara Reporters on 5 and 9 March 2021. The reports alleged that Danu and top officials of the Nigeria Customs Service defrauded the Nigerian government of ₦51 billion meant for the Customs Service. Justice Mohammed Zubairu found that the publication was false, that it referred to the claimant, and that it contained disparaging assertions against him. Above all, it was communicated to the world via the internet.

The court awarded ₦20 million in damages and an additional ₦15 million in aggravated and exemplary damages and ordered Sahara Reporters to retract the articles and publish an unreserved apology on its website.

The court was pointed in its reasoning, finding that the failure of Sahara Reporters to justify the publication or retract it further proved the malicious intent behind it. It was not merely ruling on whether the publication was false; it was also ruling on the conduct of a media organisation that, confronted with the possibility that its reporting was wrong, chose to maintain it without justification.

The underlying principle the court affirmed is now part of Nigeria’s judicial record: an individual has the right to seek and obtain damages from a media organisation, however prominent, that publishes false and damaging allegations. That right applies regardless of how well-regarded the publication is and regardless of how consequential its journalism may otherwise be.

DSS Officers vs. SERAP (2024)

In October 2024, two DSS operatives, Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, filed a ₦5.5 billion defamation suit against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) after the organisation posted on X that DSS officers were “unlawfully occupying” its Abuja office. SERAP described the visit as harassment and intimidation and called on President Tinubu to intervene.

The officers, who said they were on a routine familiarization visit, signed a visitor’s register and left before the post was made. The post went viral, attracted international condemnation, and resulted in both officers being suspended, investigated, and brought before a DSS disciplinary panel.

SERAP has characterized the lawsuit as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), and Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to drop what it described as a "bogus defamation lawsuit." The FCT High Court has since reserved judgment after both sides adopted their final written addresses on February 19.

Like Sullivan, the case turns on whether a publication that did not name individuals by name can still constitute actionable defamation when the individuals can be identified from the description. And like the Patel case, it asks whether those who work within powerful government structures retain the same fundamental right to protect their reputations as any other citizen.

SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, admitted in court that he was not physically present during the visit and that the officers did not brandish weapons, damage property, assault staff, or force entry.

These cases—Sullivan, in 1960; Patel, in 2026, and DSS-SERAP in 2024, illustrate a principle that democratic societies have, for decades, been working to articulate the right to seek legal redress for reputational harm as universal. However, it is not unconditional, and it must be exercised with proportionality and genuine intent.

The freedom to speak comes with the responsibility to speak truthfully. And where that responsibility is breached and real harm results, courts exist to address it.

What distinguishes a legitimate defamation suit from a SLAPP is not who files it or who is sued. It is the question of purpose and proportionality: is the lawsuit genuinely aimed at obtaining justice for documented harm or otherwise? That question must be answered in every case, whether the plaintiff is a police commissioner in Alabama, an FBI director in Washington, or two security officers in Abuja.

Civil society organisations, human rights groups, and the media play an indispensable role in democratic life. They hold power accountable. They amplify voices that would otherwise go unheard. They expose abuses that institutions would prefer to bury. The credibility that makes this work powerful is built on accuracy, fairness, and a willingness to be held to the same standards demanded of others.

When a rights organisation publishes a statement that is factually wrong and causes real harm to identifiable individuals, those individuals do not forfeit their right to seek redress because their accuser carries a virtuous reputation. The law does not and should not create a privileged class of accusers who are immune from challenge. A government official, a security officer, a corporate executive, and a private citizen all carry the same fundamental right: the right to protect their reputation from destroyed by falsehoods. And the right to seek justice when it occurs.

The courts are not just deciding individual cases. They are drawing the lines of a conversation that every democratic society must have: where does the freedom to speak end, and where does the obligation to speak truthfully begin? The answer, as history has repeatedly shown, is not a line that protects only the powerful or only the seemingly marginalised. Since no one is believed to be above the law, this should be a line that protects everyone equally and holds everyone equally accountable.

Asuquo lives in Uyo

*Court adjourns to April 30.


The Plateau State government on Thursday arraigned four suspects arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the April 2026 killings in Angwa Rukuba, Jos North LGA, of the state.

When the matter came up at courts 9 and 12 of the High Court of the State, Jos, the absence of lawyers for the defendants prevented the court from taking their plea.
As a result, both courts adjourned till April 30 to enable the defendants to get legal representation.

Justices Danladi Longden and Gegeliah Fwomyon, who presided over Courts 9 and 12, respectively, ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS.

It would be recalled that, in the wake of the Angwa Rukuba killings, President Bola Tinubu visited Jos early in the month, where he assured justice for the victims.

The government of Plateau State filed charges of criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism and other related offenses against the quartet of Isa Umar Ibrahim; Auwalu Abubakar, aka Auwalu Dogo; and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, aka Yaroro.

On his part, Adamu Isa Alhassan, who was the only defendant arraigned in Court 9, is charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and illegally dealing in arms and ammunition. They were arrested between April 3 and April 10, 2026.

The State Attorney General, Philemon Audu Daffi, who is leading the prosecution, said the actions of the four men were "contrary to Section 269 and punishable under Section 270 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017."

The particulars of the offense read, "That you, Isa Umar Ibrahim; Musa Abubakar Ibrahim of Riyom Local Government Area; Auwalu Abubakar (A.K.A. Auwalu Dogo) of Jos North Local Government Area; and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (A.K.A. Yaroro) of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State; and one Ado Ibrahim (now at large) of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, on the 28th day of March, 2025, at Farin Gada, Jos North Local Government Area, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit offenses relating to terrorism when you planned, organized, facilitated, aided, and contributed money to carry out the attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court; you thereby committed the above offense."

"That you, Isa Umar Ibrahim; Musa Abubakar Ibrahim of Riyom Local Government Area; Auwalu Abubakar (A.K.A. Auwalu Dogo) of Jos North Local Government Area; Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (A.K.A. Yaroro) of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State; and one Ado Ibrahim (now at large) of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, on the 28th day of March, 2025, at Farin Gada, Jos North Local Government Area, did commit the offense of terrorism when you planned, organized, facilitated, aided, contributed to, and received money to carry out an attack in Angwan Rukuba, which led to the death of over thirty (30) people in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court."

Part of the particulars of Alhassan's offense read, "That you, Adamu Isah Alhassan, together with one Ibrahim Musa (now at large), Imarana Sa’idu (now at large), Yusuf Sa’idu (now at large), Aliyu Usaini (now at large), Yahuza Adamu (now at large), Mubarak Yunusa (now at large), and Yakubu, whose surname is unknown (now at large), and others also at large between the months of January to December, 2025, and in January, 2026, at Gwang, Rin Ward, Bachit, and Bangai Villages of Riyom Local Government Area and Vom in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an illegal act, to wit: Culpable Homicide Punishable with Death, when you armed yourselves with guns, attacked, and killed the residents of Gwang, Rin Ward, Bachit, and Bangai Villages of Riyom Local Government Area and Vom in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, and you thereby committed the above offense."

Recall that, on Friday, March 28, 2025, no fewer than 30 persons, including children, were killed after suspected herders attacked some communities in the Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas and their environs of the state.

Following the killings, many called for the cancellation of a program, "Experience Plateau, Arts Meets Fashion."

Brushing aside the calls, Governor Caleb Mutfwang said cancelling the event would satisfy the agenda of the attackers. Said the governor, "Last week, the Bokkos Local Government Area came under renewed attack by murderers who are desperate to break our spirit.
"Many advised that we suspend this function, but we realized that these attackers intend to keep us in perpetual mourning, to force us indoors, and to shackle our collective spirit.

“But I said no! Life must go on. Plateau must move forward by the grace of God. The genocide on the Plateau will come to an end. What is happening is not a farmer-herder conflict. Let me be clear: it is genocide, and I urge the international community to take note," declared the governor.

During the president's visit early this month, he met with victims of the attacks, assessed the damage, and promised justice for the victims.

“We are optimistic that ongoing interventions will help restore lasting peace,” assured the president, even as he charged citizens of the state to be vigilant.

Source: AIT

A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Friday how operatives Department of State Services (DSS) trailed and apprehended a man who sent several messages to some elite schools in Abuja schools, threatening to kill their students and teachers.

An operative of the DSS, Michael Jego, told the court that his agency received petitions from three schools in Abuja in 2024 about text messages from some telephone numbers, with threat to kill students and teachers, and destroy property in the affected schools.

Jego spoke on Friday while testifying as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the ongoing trial of Agbo, in whose possession the witness said a Techno android phone, allegedly used by the suspect, identified as John Jude Agbo, to send the threat messages, was recovered.

Agbo, who was arraigned on March 17 on a two-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/06/2026, is being prosecuted by the DSS under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

The DSS, in a case summary filed in court, said the defendant is "standing trial on charges of using the instrumentality of his GSM numbers: 08124412783, 08069781274, 08105715028 and 09139681108 to send SMS to some schools in Abuja."

The secret police listed Premier International School, The Regent Secondary School and Oakland International British School, as the schools Agbo sent the threat messages.

The defendant was said to have, in the text messages, "threatened to attack the schools and kill both students and teachers," stressing that it wouldn't take them.up to a minute to achieve that.

The DSS stated that the act constituted offences contrary to Section 24 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Section 18 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) (Amendment) Act, 2024.

Led in evidence by lawyer for the prosecution, Dr. Calistus Eze, Jego said his team was instructed to investigate a petition received from Oakland International School on November 28, 2024.

The witness said his team, in the course of investigation, deployed forensics and apprehended the defendant in Otukpo in Benue State. He added that a mobile phone and a SIM card were recovered from him.

Jego further told the court that the defendant was brought to Abuja and interviewed, following which he volunteered his statement in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACN).

The prosecution subsequently tendered the recovered mobile phone, a Techno android phone; petitions from the schools, a compact disc containing audio visual recording of the defendant's interview and statement making sessions, a copy of the defendant's extra-judicial statement, among others.

The court admitted all the documents and items in evidence in the absence of objection from the defence lawyer, Hamza Dantani.

The defendant, who confirmed being familiar with the Techno android phone, however denied being the owner.

While being cross-examined by Dantani, Jego said his organisation got complaints from the schools through petitions.

He said the petitions did not reflect the name of the defendant and that the phone numbers used to send the SMS were provided by the petitioners, who also provided the text messages.

Jego said he would not know if the phone numbers belonged to the defendant, but that the defendant admitted that he was part of those that composed the text messages.

The witness added that Agbo was arrested in possession of the mobile phone recovered from him and that he admitted being part of those behind the text messages.

At the conclusion of the cross examination, Eze sought an adjournment to enable the prosecution bring more witnesses and exhibits, a request Dantani did not object to.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik thereafter adjourned to May 12 for continuation of trial.

Source: Dailytrust.com

*Pledges Continued Support to State Security Apparatus*

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has commended operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) for the arrest of high-profile kidnappers and gunrunners in the state.
He gave the commendation during a visit to the agency's state headquarters on April 5, in Enugu.

The governor expressed particular delight over the arrest of a high-target gang leader, who has been responsible for a series of attacks on security operatives and kidnapping for ransom in Enugu and its environs, noting that residents will finally be relieved of his reign of terror in the state and Southeast region. He further expressed dismay at how able-bodied individuals could abandon human decency for heinous crimes, stressing that the full weight of the law awaits the criminals.

He praised the DSS for their professionalism, discipline, and role in ensuring a peaceful Easter celebration while urging the command to maintain this momentum, which he described as the core duty of government.

"The good people of Enugu State are grateful for the peaceful atmosphere, especially around the Easter period, brought about through the efforts of the Service and other security agencies in the state." Expressing confidence that the criminals will finally end up behind bars with their network already disrupted, he added, 'It is your duty to sustain the tempo of security service delivery, as this remains the primary essence of government and can never be taken for granted,' stated the governor.

While expressing hope that the State would be rid of criminals with the sustained efforts of security agencies, the Governor also reaffirmed his commitment to making Enugu the safest hub for tourism, business, and living.

Source: https://zagazola.org/index.php/breaking-news/gov-mbah-lauds-dss-over-arrest-of-high-risk-criminals

By Louis Achi

The Igbo idiom "Nwoke nusia ogu nwsnyi enwelu akuko" talks about man's penchant for taking credit for the struggles or sacrifices of others.

For the benefit of those who do not understand Igbo, I'll attempt a translation: when a man finishes a war, the woman takes over the role of telling the story.
This scenario is currently playing out in Southeast Nigeria, particularly in Anambra State. The past few weeks have seen the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, touring markets and schools to, in his words, end the Monday sit-at-home.

Apparently, to underscore his administration's commitment, in a matter of three weeks, he shut two markets: Onitsha Main Market and the New Auto Spare Parts Market in Nnewi. The move has drawn tons of applause for the governor, especially from those who feel that "sit-at-home" has seriously damaged the economy of the zone.

Social scientists, historians and persons in other fields of study have newfound the phenomenon-far-fetched cause and effect. In other words, they believe that every event (effect) is preceded by an action (cause).

Now, Soludo was sworn in as governor of Anambra State on March 17, 2022. The implication is that, by today, March 17, 2026, he has spent four years in office. Worthy of note is that the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) declared a Monday sit-at-home on August 9, 2021 - seven long months before Soludo assumed office as governor. For three years and 10 months, Monday sit-at-home didn't appear to be his problem. Well, until now.

Interestingly, Soludo's anger with the Monday sit-at-home began in late January, 2026. About two months earlier, on November 20, 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment. Before the court verdict, many had predicted Armageddon in the Southeast region should the separatist leader be convicted, let alone sentenced.

What followed after operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) moved Kanu to Sokoto to begin serving his jail sentence, was absolute calm in the Southeast region. Weeks passed. More calm. Not even as much as a single protest in the entire region.
What is more, many say last Yuletide was the most peaceful the people of the Southeast region experienced in over ten years.

Soludo, apparently now convinced that Kanu's incarceration had greatly weakened IPOB, moved in. Being a politician who wouldn't allow any golden opportunity to slip through his fingers, he seized the moment. Suddenly, he realized that sit-at-home was bad for the state. And that, consequently, he had to move to "end it."
What many may not have realized was that Kanu, now apparently feeling home alone in Sokoto, and realizing the enormity of his life sentence, according to sources, began reaching out to influential political and religious leaders. He reportedly began seeking a political solution and soft landing. One of the deals reportedly struck with those he reached out to, was for the imprisoned Kanu to show good faith by announcing the cancellation of the sit-at-home order.

It therefore came as little surprise that, in early February, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful announced that Nnamdi Kanu, from Sokoto prison, had “officially and permanently cancelled” the directive with effect from Monday, 9 February 2026.

“This directive comes directly from Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu himself, who has once again staked everything on the line to ensure that our children return to school every Monday and that our people go about their lawful businesses without fear, intimidation, or molestation,” said Powerful.

To the discerning, Governor Soludo's new found bravado wasn't farfetched. It stemmed from the speedy and diligent prosecution of Kanu by the DSS leadership, culminating in his bagging a life sentence.

The determination and coordinated efforts by the Nigerian state through her security agencies, particularly the DSS, not only has, in the estimation of many, proven yet again that, with the necessary political will, anyone who underestimates the might of the State does so at his or her own risk.

The return to normalcy in the Southeast has shown tsecurity threatsrity, in whatever shape and form, are surmountable.

By early 2026, the result of relentless operations, particularly by the DSS, led to key prosecutions and internal fractures within the IPOB camp. These efforts resulted in citizens having increased confidence in the ability of the State to protect life and property, as well as maintain peace, law and order.

Even after Kanu's sentencing, it was obvious that the DSS didn't rest on its oars. The Service heightened the deployment of human and material resources into gathering accurate intelligence to further weaken what was left of IPOB's capacity to unleash terror on innocent and law-abiding citizens in the Southeast region.

To return peace and normalcy in Southeast, the secret police upped its game in smoking out IPOB commanders from their hideouts. They targeted and seized their cache of arms and ammunition, all the while cutting off fresh supplies. For the first time in years, the Southeast began witnessing a return to normalcy.

The end of the sit-at-home menace in the Southeast is a testimony to the fact that the strategy deployed by the DSS in turning the tide against IPOB's sit-at-home stranglehold on Nigeria's Southeast, worked.

DSS's approach as it were, was, in every sense, holistic. While the agency sustained operations in the Southeast, the leadership pushed for the accelerated prosecution of lingering terror-related cases across the country.
It has become obvious to keen watchers that, intelligence-led security operations by the secret police, combined with adherence to the rule of law, can dismantle even the most deeply- entrenched insurgencies.

What is more, the series of arrests and prosecutions of terror suspects by the DSS also sent a clear message that it won't be business as usual. With the DSS changing the strategy of leading the charge in counter-terror intelligence across the country, a lot can be seen to have changed.

For instance, from media reports, the DSS is now speeding up the trials of suspected terror kingpins like Khalid Al-Barnawi and his lieutenants accused of the 26 August, 2011, attack on the United Nations building in Abuja. The attack claimed the lives of over 23 persons from different counties. In September 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted a DSS application for an accelerated hearing on the matter.

So is the DSS, from media reports, accelerating the trial of five men accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, in which led to the death of over 40 worshippers.

According to media accounts, the same DSS leadership is vigorously pursuing justice for victims of the August 7, 2012, attack on Deeper Life Bible Church in Otite, near Okene, in Kogi State. About 20 persons died in the attack.

In August 2025, to the credit of the secret police, the media reported the capture of Abubakar Abba, aka Malam Mahmuda or Abu Bara'a, leader of the Mahmuda terrorist group, who terrorised parts of Kwara and Niger States. The beauty in Abba's capture is that no single shot was reportedly fired by the DSS. He is currently being prosecuted by the secret police.
Just yesterday, Monday 16th March, a DSS officer narrated before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, how two Ansaru terror commanders, Mahmoud Muhammed Usman aka Abu Bara'a, and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda) confessed to receiving training in weapons in Libya.
Both men, who are confirmed commanders of Ansaru terrorist organization, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, are reportedly responsible for several high-profile attacks, including the
July 5, 2022, one in Kuje prison.

The DSS didn't stop at nabbing radicalized terrorists. Their operatives have gone several steps further to arrest persons who, under the guise of communal clashes, unleash violence on law-abiding citizens. The trial of persons linked to the Yelwata massacre of June 2025, in Guma LGA of Benue State, readily comes to mind.

The attack, in which dozens of people were killed and 107 were injured, drew worldwide condemnation. So much so that President Bola Tinubu had to pay a condolence visit to the state. There, the president demanded the arrest of the killers and attackers.

In August 2025, the DSS filed terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, against nine suspects. Two suspects, Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi of Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, who are still at large, were charged with four counts of terrorism, among which is the concealment of information about the attacks, before they were staged in Abinsi and Yelwata villages between June 13th and 14th.

In total, the secret police filed six separate charges against the arrested suspects, who are now undergoing trial. They are Adamu and Abdullahi are Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Asara Ahnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba, and Pyeure Damina.

The DSS also charged two other suspects, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, with three counts for allegedly carrying out reprisal attack against the terror suspects involved in the Abinsi and Yelwata attacks.

The ongoing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite began with their arraignment in early September, with the defendants pleading not guilty.

On Yelwata, the DSS DG, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, according to a post on the official X handle of the secret police, remarked, "The various arrests and trials of terrorism suspects showed that Nigeria's security agencies have been diligent in dealing with the perpetrators of terror in the country. The men we are prosecuting are separate from the hundreds of suspects under the military's protective custody, whose cases are being handled by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. In July last year, 125 of the terrorists were convicted."

The post further quoted the secret police boss as saying, "We shall continue to make the suspects accountable for disrupting the peace of our country, in consonance with the rule of law."

As I write this, I have it on good authority from my usually dependable security sources that DSS operatives have arrested a key ISIS commander. Given the new DSS strategy of using silence to achieve more, it may not be until a few more weeks before the arrest of the ISIS commander becomes public knowledge.

Given the vigour with which the DSS is arresting and prosecuting suspected terrorists and criminal elements, at the same time cutting off their supplies of arms and ammunition, my sources disclosed that the criminal elements are devising new strategies to move weapons and ammunition.

Several sources hinted that the criminals now use unsuspecting women and young girls to move arms, especially in the northern part of the country. The women and girls are reportedly offered between N20,000 and N50,000 to deliver "grains in sacks" to particular destinations. In those sacks of grains, they often conceal weapons and rounds of ammunition.

In a particular case, offered one of my sources, one middle-aged woman travelling with those deadly consignments, even "hired" a child to make her look like a nursing mother.

"Given the rising cases of arms couriers posing as grain dealers, the DSS boss, who is certain that ignorance cannot be an excuse for breaking the law, has ordered his officers to prosecute any arms courier posing as a grains merchant," said a source, adding, "the DG believes the country can only be safe if people are held to account for their actions."

According to one source, the DSS now believes the only way solve the problem of insecurity is by strictly enforcing the law.

The courage, determination, zeal, and precision-intelligence deployed by the DSS and other sister security agencies is, no doubt, paying off. So has collaborating and sharing intelligence. These efforts have greatly decimated the ability of terrorists to transport arms and ammunition. These actions reassure citizens that, no matter the challenges, the state is working round the clock. Not only to make them feel safe, but to, indeed, keep them safe.

As our security agencies work tirelessly to keep us safe, all that is required of us as citizens is to support them with all we can, particularly, with vital information. Together we shall overcome.


Achi, a senior journalist who has edited several national newspapers, lives in Abuja

Source: https://punchng.com/tinubus-dg-dss-appointment-strategy-that-ended-sit-at-home/

Jubilation in Bwari as Army-DSS - Police Joint Operation Leads to Rescue of 25 Kidnapped Victims

* Two suspected kidnappers killed, guns recovered

There was widespread jubilation at the weekend in Gidandogo and Byazhin communities in Bwari Area Council, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as a joint operation by the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and the police resulted in the rescue of 25 kidnapped victims.

The rescued victims, comprising 14 men, six women, and five children, community sources said, were reportedly abducted in the first week of March by bandits operating across the communities.

Sources confirmed that, the gun duel between the security forces and the bandits resulted in the death of two kidnappers, recovery of one AK-47 rifle, and one locally-fabricated shotgun.

The operations followed reports of multiple abductions in Peze and Byazhin communities in the council, as well as in bordering communities across Kaduna and Niger States.

Leaders and members of the communities praised the agencies for the feat, noting that the development has brought a sigh of relief to several communities in the area council.

Speaking to reporters, the community leader of Zone D, Ushafa, particularly thanked the DSS for "working tirelessly with the communities to gather intelligence that led to the rescue operation."

He appreciated the secret police for what he described as the "constant follow-up on the case even before the rescue operation," and assured that community members will continue to contribute their part to support the DSS.

On his part, the village Head, Byazhin ward, commended the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Tosin Ajayi, for "his commitment to tackling insecurity and his humane disposition to the people."

He thanked the Service for prioritizing the safety of his people and prayed for divine strength and protection for the DSS operatives

Reuniting with their families, the victims, who recounted their horrific ordeal, appreciated the DSS and other security agencies. They thanked God for their safe return.

"I want to thank the agencies for their swift response which saved our lives. Today we are at the Army barracks and we have received treatment and they are taking care of us. May God keep giving them the strength to keep setting Nigeria free from these bad elements that have been disrupting the peace of the country," one of the rescued victims declared.

Relatedly, added the source, the DSS arrested a suspected bandit informant identified as Habila Abraham. "He is currently in DSS custody awaiting arraignment in court," the source disclosed.


Source: https://www.nationalaccordnewspaper.com/jubilation-in-bwari-as-army-dss-police-joint-operation-leads-to-rescue-of-25-kidnapped-victims/

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a suspected notorious commander of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), Sabastine Odo Odam, who allegedly killed 11 labourers and five police officers in a series of violent attacks in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The DSS also arrested Ejike Daniel, a suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), during the intelligence-led operation carried out on Friday, March 6, in Eha-Amufu and Umuhu communities.

Security sources say the arrests followed months of surveillance over the suspects’ alleged involvement in attacks on police stations and the carting away of weapons used in subsequent assaults.

According to the sources, the suspects have confessed to masterminding several attacks, including the February 26 killing of 11 labourers, as well as the murder of five police officers between December 24, 2025 and January 26, 2026.

Residents of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area have welcomed the arrests, expressing hope that the development will help restore peace to communities affected by repeated violence.

Both suspects are currently in the custody of the DSS and are expected to be arraigned in court soon.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/dss-arrests-suspected-esn-commander-ipob-member-in-enugu/%3famp

Nigeria’s Security Challenges and the Innovative Strides of Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services

By David Akoji, Director Special Duties/State Operations, National Orientation Agency, Abuja.

Nigeria continues to grapple with multifaceted security challenges spanning insurgency in the North-East, banditry and kidnapping across the North-West and Middle Belt, criminal militias in the South, and separatist agitations in the South-East. These threats have strained national cohesion, disrupted economic activities, and imposed heavy human and material costs on citizens and the state alike.

At the centre of Nigeria’s internal security architecture stands the Department of State Services (DSS) the primary domestic intelligence and counter-subversion agency mandated to detect, prevent, and neutralise internal security threats across the federation.

Nigeria’s Security Landscape: A Complex Matrix

Starting with the resurgence of insurgency led by violent extremist groups in Borno and adjoining states, to widespread banditry and kidnapping in rural towns, and tensions surrounding ethnic and political grievances, Nigeria’s security environment remains one of the country’s most pressing challenges. Analysts and national leaders alike agree that these threats require proactive intelligence, collaborative operations, and strategic reform within security institutions.

The DSS: Key Player in National Security Architecture

The DSS occupies a pivotal position within Nigeria’s security architecture. Charged with collecting and analysing intelligence related to internal threats, protecting critical national infrastructure, and assisting in law enforcement, the agency’s work complements that of other security organs, including the military, police, and civil defence, with a focus on anticipatory intelligence rather than reactive force.

By monitoring emerging threats, infiltrating criminal networks, and liaising with domestic and international partners, the DSS plays a central role in pre-empting attacks before they occur, a necessary function in a country where conventional responses alone cannot guarantee security.

Leadership and Renewed Focus

In August 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as Director General of the DSS, ushering in what supporters describe as a new phase for the agency. Ajayi assumed office with a mandate to strengthen intelligence gathering and reposition the DSS to tackle Nigeria’s evolving security threats more effectively.

Since he assumed office, Ajayi has sought to redefine the image and operational focus of the DSS, underscoring compliance with the rule of law, due process, and respect for fundamental rights even as the service executes its internal security mandate. His leadership posture emphasises the fact that the DSS is a covert intelligence agency and thus has no business constantly showing up in the media.

Key Initiatives and Impact

Under Ajayi’s leadership, the DSS has introduced several notable initiatives that signal a broader approach to security:
Review and Accountability in Detentions: The DSS has conducted internal reviews of longstanding detention cases and ordered the release of individuals wrongfully held on security grounds, accompanied by compensation in line with due process. These actions reflect a commitment to correcting institutional errors and reinforcing public confidence.

Community-Based Interventions: Ajayi has championed strategic community engagement through support for schools, places of worship, and sports facilities aimed at tackling the root causes of radicalisation, a non-traditional but increasingly significant dimension of national security policy.

Recognising the importance of inter-agency collaboration, the DG DSS maintains constant contact with the National Orientation Agency to enhance the agency’s soft power approach to National Security issues.

Locally Produced Security Technology: In partnership with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the DSS has advanced initiatives to produce high-tech security equipment domestically, reducing reliance on foreign imports and enhancing local capacity for intelligence gathering.

Media Engagement and Press Freedom: Ajayi has pledged to foster an enabling environment for journalists, advocating for the protection of media practitioners and collaboration with press organisations to ensure fair reporting of security matters.

Religious and Social Harmony: Demonstrating a commitment to social cohesion, he hosted inter-faith engagements that drew commendation from religious bodies, highlighting the role of mutual respect and tolerance in national stability.

The Role of Intelligence in Preventing Breaches

Intelligence remains the backbone of proactive security management. Through enhanced surveillance, infiltration of extremist networks, information sharing with other agencies, and inter-agency collaboration, the DSS contributes to pre-empting plots and disrupting criminal enterprises before they escalate into crises.

The agency’s work has featured prominently in prosecutions related to ethno-religious massacres and terrorist attacks, underlining the importance of actionable intelligence in strengthening the justice system and reinforcing the rule of law.

Looking Ahead

As Nigeria continues the heavy task of securing its citizens and territorial integrity, the DSS under the leadership of Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi is positioning itself as a more agile, accountable, and community-engaged institution. By integrating technological innovation, adhering to human rights, and employing proactive intelligence strategies, the agency aims not only to respond to threats but also to help prevent them.

The evolving role of the DSS reflects an understanding that sustainable security must be rooted in intelligence excellence, inter-agency cooperation, respect for law, and also social intervention, a comprehensive approach essential for peace and stability in Nigeria.

Malami, Son Return to Kuje Prison Pending Perfection of N400m, Other Bail Conditions

The Federal High Court in Abuja on
Friday admitted former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami and his son, Abdulaziz, each to N200m bail on terrorism-related and illegal firearms possession charges brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Malami and his son were, however, ordered to be remanded at Kuje Prison pending the perfection of the bail conditions imposed on them by the court.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted them bail while ruling on their bail applications argued by their lead Counsel, Joseph Daudu SAN.

Among other conditions, the Judge ordered the former AGF and his son to get two sureties each, one of whom must own landed property in the Maitama or Asokoro districts of the city.

Justice Abdulmalik said that the title of the property must be deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court along with valid international passports.

The sureties are also to depose to an affidavit of means and hand their two recent passport photographs to the court.

Besides, Malami and his son were also ordered to submit their international passports and recent passport photographs to the court.

The judge subsequently fixed March 4 for the commencement of the trial.

The DSS had arraigned Malami and his son, Abdulaziz on a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and illegal possession of firearms.

In the charge, marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Malami is also accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers, whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are, equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State without lawful authority.

The DSS accused Malami in count one of the charge, with knowingly abetting terrorism financing, while the ex-AGF and his son are charged in counts two to five, with unlawful, possession of a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, 16 Redstar AAA 5720 live rounds of cartridges and 27 expended Redstar AAA 5'20 cartridges, contrary to and punishable under relevant Sections of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Firearms Act, 2004.

Counts in the charge read:

*That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adult, male, sometime in November, 2022 at Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 (2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

*Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II, Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your res:dence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in a conduct in preparation to commit act of terrorism by having in your possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5°20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5'20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

*That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without a licence, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

*That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5'20 live rounds of cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act. COUNT FIVE

That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5'20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

Read more...
https://thenaijanews.ng/2026/02/27/malami-son-return-to-kuje-prison-pending-perfection-of-n400m-other-bail-conditions/

Governor Radda Lauds DSS, Army, Police, for Rescuing 19 Christian, 2 Muslim Hostages

*4 Suspects Arrested*

Katsina State governor, Alhaji Dikko Umar Radda, has applauded the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, as well as the Nigeria Police Force, for rescuing 21 victims kidnapped in the state.

The disclosure was conveyed in a statement issued on Saturday by the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Mua'zu.

The Commissioner stated that, Governor Radda commended the security agencies for what the governor described as the "professionalism and courage displayed during the operation."

According to the statement, the victims, made up of 19 Christians and two Muslims, were rescued during a joint security operation on Dargaza Hills, in Danmusa Local Government Area of the state.

The operation, stated the Commissioner, which included the members of the State Community Watch Corps, led to the arrest of four suspects who he said are undergoing investigation.

"The rescued victims, comprising 16 women, two men and three babies, were kidnapped from Gidan Sarkin Bayero Village in Musawa LGA and other locations.

"19 of the rescued victims are Christians, while two are Muslims. This shows the indiscriminate nature of banditry and the government's commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of religion," said the state government.

"The operation particularly targeted the enclave of notorious bandit leader Kamilu Chiroma, also known as Buzaru, in Dargaza Hills.

"This successful rescue demonstrates the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and the synergy among our security agencies," noted the statement.

"The State Government wishes to assure citizens that the suspects will face the full weight of the law upon completion of investigations.

"We also want to reiterate that Governor Dikko Umaru Radda's commitment to ending banditry and restoring lasting peace across Katsina State is non-negotiable," he declared.

Source: Vanguard

*Nasir el-Rufa'i and His Sons Have a Strong Case to Answer Over the Disappearance of Dadiyata!*

Please fact-check me: With his own mouth, Nasir el-Rufa'i said the following:

"Anybody that tries to criminalise Nasir el-Rufa’i should know that he has a battle on his hands till one of us drops dead."

Abubakar Idris, on multiple occasions, fought Nasir el-Rufa'i and did not hide his belief that el-Rufa'i is a criminal. Today, he has not been seen alive for almost seven years.

When you juxtapose the above boast by Nasir el-Rufa'i, and the statement made by his son, Bashir el-Rufa'i, on Monday, December 23, 2019, justifying the disappearance of Dadiyata by saying as follows:

“Those same clowns who encourage him when he was creating false stories and capitalising on lies that could endanger lives solely for political ends are the same individuals trending hashtags asking, ‘#WhereisDadiyata.’

“Dangerous lies in the public space have consequences.”

Then, it is clear as day that the el-Rufa'i clan have a case to answer for the disappearance of the young, intelligent, handsome and fearless critic, Dadiyata, who was more honourable than almost anyone in that fiendish family!

This same Bashir el-Rufa'i is as bloodthirsty as his father, and on Sunday, August 3, 2025, he threatened to locate and kill a young Nigerian and his entire family after he had made a post on X that Bashir did not like. On that day, Bashir said:

"If you ever utter that phrase to my mother again and delete that tweet, I am going to find you (it’s easier than you think) and unalive you and your family.”

Notice that Bashir said finding the X user is "easier than you think." Does it mean that it is not only the father who knows how to bug and wiretap people illegally?

Another of Nasir el-Rufa'i's sons was accused of sending threats to the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honourable Yusuf Liman, about the horrible things that he, Bello, a Member of the House of Representatives, would do to him and his fellow lawmakers if they do not stop the probe into how his father, Nasir el-Rufa'i, allegedly looted ₦432 billion from the Kaduna State Government coffers.

On Sunday, April 12, 2020, this same so-called 'Honourable' had previously sent a private message to a user of X, formerly Twitter, in which he threatened to rape women of Igbo descent, and to traumatise them further, he said he would first dip his male member into petrol before inserting it into their female Instruments serially!

Imagine the barbarity of these men!

Being that both father and son have made death threats in the past, and have the obvious capacity and blood lust to carry them out, there is DEFINITELY sufficient evidence that Nasir el-Rufa'i and his sons have a case to answer for the disappearance of Dadiyata since Friday, August 2, 2019.

Reno Omokri

Before You Feel Sorry For Nasir el-Rufai

Please examine the attached photo carefully. It is unedited. In case the notoriously short-memory Nigerian public has forgotten, this is what Nasir el-Rufai did to Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky when he was Governor of Kaduna State for eight unfortunate years between 2015 and 2023.

In addition to reducing Sheikh Zakzaky to such a barbaric and pathetic state, 347 Shia Muslim men, women, children, and infants were massacred under Nasir el-Rufai.

That was the official figure. The unofficial figure put the death toll at about a thousand!

Under Nasir el-Rufai, his critic, Abubakar Idris, was snatched from his house before Salatul Jumu'ah prayers on Friday, August 2, 2019, never to be seen again to this day. He is believed to be dead!

Dadiyata, as Abubakar Idris is (or was) fondly called, left behind at home a wife, Khadija Ahmad Lame, and two young daughters, Hanifa and Fatima, who have been living in trauma since his 2019 abduction under the el-Rufai despotic regime.

Nasir el-Rufai arrested multiple journalists and activists for covering him negatively, including:

Jacob Onjewu Dickson
Segun Onibiyo 
Midat Joseph
Audu Maikori

Audu Maikori had to escape Nigeria for the United States, where I met him, interviewed him, and shuddered in terror at what Nasir el-Rufai did to him.

After Nasir el-Rufai was criticised by the Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna, he demolished a house linked to the official who criticised him on claims that the house hosted a "sex party". I interviewed the owner, Aisha Mercy Yakubu, and she stated that nothing of the sort had occurred. She was just a victim of Nasir el-Rufai's vendetta!

Nasir el-Rufai also demolished the home of his major critic, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, the leader of a faction of the Kaduna State All Progressives Congress opposed to him.

To further disgrace Senator Hunkuyi, the house was demolished at 2 a.m.

Nasir el-Rufai also demolished the house of another critic, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, then the APC National Vice Chairman (North West), who was strongly critical of el-Rufai and opposed his re-election.

This is a man who boasted of paying killer herdsmen. The ordeal of the harrowing experiences of Southern Kaduna Christians under this butcher is another cautionary tale.

His hatred for Christians and Christianity is encapsulated in his boast that:

'Even if Pope is my running mate, Christians won’t vote for me.'

So, please, Nasir el-Rufai should stop all this grandstanding and falsely accusing the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, of his present condition.

The truth is that Nasir el-Rufai is fingered in the alleged theft of ₦423 billion during his tenure by no less a body than the Kaduna State House of Assembly. He is not above the law or above arrest.

He should not resist legal arrest or try to blame others for his alleged crimes. It is doubtful that any Governor in the history of Nigeria has arrested more of their critics than Nasir el-Rufai.

And because he did it, his guilty conscience makes him think that everybody is like him.

No, Nasir, you are not being persecuted. You are being prosecuted!

Source: Reno Omokri

Alleged cyberstalking: Court Rejects Sowore's Documents in Trial on False Claim against Tinubu

*Orders probe of leaked court session video

A Federal High Court in Abuja in two rulings on Wednesday rejected two sets of documents tendered by politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore in his ongoing trial on cyberstalking charge.

Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly making false claim against the person of Present Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in a post he made on his "X" and Facebook accounts.

In the first ruling on Wednesday, Justice Mohammed Umar declined an oral application by Sowore's lawyer, Marshall Abubakar that a set of documents, comprising print outs of publications, be admitted in evidence.

The publications include media reports about DSS' dismissal of 115 officials for misconduct, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charging five ex-governors with corruption, EFCC's sacking 27 of its officials over fraud and misconduct and EFCC's arrest of some ex-staff of the NNPCL over N7.2billion fraud.

In the ruling, Justice Umar agreed with prosecuting lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) that the best opportunity for the defendant to tender the documents is during the conduct of his defence.

The judge held that since the first prosecution witness (PW1) being cross-examined by Abubakar said he knew nothing about the publications contained in the documents, such documents could not be tendered through the witness.

"You cannot tender a document through a witness who said he did not know anything about it.
The document is marked as rejected," Justice Umar said.

In the second ruling, the judge rejected another set of documents which comprised of print outs of publications which Abubakar claimed showed that President Bola Tinubu had in 2011 called then President Goodluck Jonathan a drunkard and sinking fisherman, and also called former President Olusegun Obasanjo "expired meat."

The judge marked the documents rejected for the same reason he gave in rejecting the first set of documents.

Justice Umar frowned at the report by the prosecuting lawyer that a member of the defence team had live streamed previous proceedings in the case and urged the court to order an investigation to identify the person behind it.

Although Abubakar denied that any member of the defence team was involved and claimed that it could have been done by the DSS or people in the presidency, the judge said such conduct amounted to contempt of court.

Abubakar urged the court to only caution against a repeat of such incident, but to decline the request by the prosecuting lawyer that an investigation be ordered by the court.

Justice Umar said it was easy to identify the person behind the incident and that he could direct security agencies to investigate the issue because it was a serious matter.

The judge promised to probe the leaked video.

While being cross-examined, PW2, Cyril Nosike, an official of the DSS, said as at the time Sowore made the post in respect of which he is being prosecuted, President Tinubu's official X (twitter) handle was @officialABAT

The witness rejected Abubakar's suggestion that the President's official X handle is @PBAT.

Nosike said he did not tender any court judgment before the court to show that corruption has ended in Nigeria.

On whether there is corruption in Nigeria, the witness said he is not a politician and cannot comment on such an issue, adding that the defence lawyer was merely asking for his opinion, saying: "I am not here to give my an opinion, but to state the facts."

He faulted claim by Abubakar that the DSS dismissed 115 of its officials for corruption, explaining that they were dismissed after internal investigation and not because of corruption as claimed by the defence lawyer.

The witness denied knowing that in 2025 the EFCC charge five ex-governor to court because of corruption; that the EFCC arrested ex-staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over N7.2billion fraud and that the EFCC dismissed 27 of its officers for fraud and misconduct.

On whether as a security officer he is aware of global corruption ranking, witness said he is not aware of global corruption ranking. He also said he is not aware of the Transparency International corruption index.

The witness equally said he is not aware that Nigeria is ranked 140 among the 180 countries captured in the global corruption index.

On whether he knows that as at 2011, the current president was a major opposition figure in the country, witness said he did not know.

On whether he is aware the in 2011 the current president called then President Goodluck Jonathan corrupt and shameless, the witness said he is not aware.

Nosike also said he is not aware that the current President called Jonathan a drunkard and a sinking fisherman.

On whether he knows former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the witness answered in the affirmative. He, however, said
he is unaware that President Tinubu called ex-President Obasanjo an expired meat.

The witness said he would be surprised if shown documents where Tinubu allegedly made such comments about the two former presidents.

When asked if he has heard of the name Femi Fani Kayode, who is now an ambassador designate, the witness said yes, but added that he could not recall that Fani Kayode was a vocal critic of the President before his nomination as ambassador.

Nosike denied knowledge of the claim by Abubakar that Fani Kayode made a post on social media alleging that President Tinubu knew something about the death of Funso Williams, who was a governorship candidate in Lagos State.

The witness said he is not aware that the DSS screened Fani Kayode as an ambassador designate because that did not form part of his schedule.

Nosike said he could not recall that Funso Williams was murdered in Lagos while President Tinubu was the governor of the state.

He admitted knowing Chief Reno Omokri and confirmed that Omokri is an ambassador-designate, appointed by this government.

The witness said he is not aware of Omokri's social media post claiming that Tinubu knows about the murder of Funso Williams, adding that he has not come across videos of Omokri saying Tinubu knows about Funso Williams' murder.

The witness said he is not aware that Omokri staged a protest against President Tinubu in London claiming that he (the President) was involved in drug trafficking and knew about Funso Williams' murder.

After spending one hour and 40 minutes on the cross examination of the PW1, Justice Umar asked Abubakar when he was going to conclude with the witness having cross-examined him for two days.

Abubakar prayed the court for one more day l, claiming he has more important questions and documents to confront the witness with.

Responding Kehinde recalled that Abubakar had, on the last date, sought for additional one hour to conclude, but has spent one hour and 40 minutes and yet claimed he was not done with the witness.

Kehinde said he would prefer to allow the judge decide whether or not to grant the adjournment being sought by the defence.

Ruling, Justice Umar noted that this is the second day the defence has been cross examining the PW1.

The judge added that although on the last date, Abubakar sought for one hour, he has spent one hour and 40 minutes and has again asked for additional date.


https://thenaijanews.ng/2026/02/04/alleged-cyberstalking-court-rejects-sowores-documents-in-trial-on-false-claim-against-tinubu/

DSS Nabs Suspected Sea Pirates, foils hijack Of Crude Oil Vessel, Abduction of Crew Members


Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Saturday, arrested two suspected members of a band of sea pirates in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, as they were fine-tuning plans to hijack a crude oil-laden vessel in the Gulf of Guinea.

The men, identified as Geoffrey Atizara, 38, from Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, and Divine Kelechi Unueze, 42, from Nekede in Owerri, Imo State, were nabbed at a hotel on Tenacious Street in the Edepie area of Yenagoa, according to security sources.

According to the sources, preliminary intelligence, corroborated by the suspects' confessional statements, revealed that the men, along with other band members, were plotting to seize a vessel, abduct its crew, and steal its cargo.

According to the sources, Unueze was the financier of the operation, while Atizara was tasked with recruiting additional pirates.

"The duo have admitted to being part of a high-profile criminal network operating in the South East and South South parts of Nigeria, mainly profiting from sea piracy and kidnapping," the source offered.

"Given the sophistication and the resources at the disposal of this pirate band, this arrest has disrupted what could have been a major threat to maritime security in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea region," one of the sources declared.

Another source disclosed that the DSS, in concert with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies, has intensified intelligence-driven operations to curb maritime security challenges in the Gulf of Guinea.

"Recent successes," the source disclosed, "include the interception of several pirate speedboats and the rescue of crew members from hijacked vessels off the coasts of Bayelsa and Delta States."

The arrest of the two suspected sea pirates in Bayelsa state, marks additional successes by security agencies in the region, he added.

Recall that barely a week ago, the DSS in separate joint operations with sister security agencies and forest guards rescued some abducted pastors and other individuals in Kaduna and Borno States.

Source: Zagazola Makama

Nigeria reaffirms its strategic commitment to defeating banditry, terrorism and strengthening national security through deeper collaboration with the United States, as the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, hosted a high-level U.S. delegation led by Allison Hooker for a strategic security parley.

The meeting, attended by His Excellency Lateef K K Are, Nigerian Ambassador to the US, Service Chiefs and Heads of the Intelligence Community, notably CDS, COAS, CAS, CDI, CNS, IGP, DG-DSS, DG NIA, underscored the growing effectiveness and professionalism of Nigeria’s intelligence and security architecture in advancing regional and internal stability.

The discussions focused on enhancing the fight against insurgency, strengthening community protection mechanisms and consolidating intelligence cooperation between both nations.

Both delegations agreed on the importance of sustaining and deepening bilateral ties, particularly through leveraging U.S. support in key areas such as defence articles, capacity building and training, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism financing measures, and mutual legal assistance. Special emphasis was also placed on bolstering protection for vulnerable communities, including Christian communities in Northern Nigeria as part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to inclusive national security.

Observers note that the strengthened U.S.–Nigeria partnership will impact confidence in Nigeria’s defence capacities and its leadership in peace and stability in the region.

Source: https://timenigeria.com/us-nigeria-working-group-holds-strategic-security-session/

Believe justice will be served.

Following the recent arraignment by the Department of State Security (DSS) of Abdulmalik Abdulazeez Obadaki, the suspected mastermind of the 2012 gun attack on a Deeper Life Bible Church in Otite, near Okene, in Kogi State, which killed over 19 worshippers, families of victims and survivors have thanked the secret police for re-arresting and speeding up Obadaki’s trial.

The victims, their families, survivors, and residents of the town expressed satisfaction with what they described as the speed and vigour with which the new DSS leadership is prosecuting Obadaki, even as they affirmed their faith in the court's ability to dispense justice.

On the morning of 7 August 2012, three men armed with AK-47 assault rifles opened fire on a Bible study session of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Otite. At the end of the attack, fifteen worshippers lay dead. Four others later died from injuries they sustained during the attack. Several dozen more were injured during the attack, believed to be the handiwork of the Ansaru terrorist group.

After the Okene church attack, Obadaki reportedly led a gang that raided five commercial banks in Uromi, Edo State, killed several individuals, and carted away huge sums of cash.

He, however, was trailed and arrested by security forces and remanded at the Kuje Prison but escaped shortly during the July 2022 jailbreak at the Kuje Custodial Centre.

The DSS announced the recapture of the fugitive Ansaru leader on November 15, 2025.
Six days later, the secret police arraigned Obadaki before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy, aiding attacks, concealment of information, and escape from lawful custody. When the charges were read, Obadaki pleaded guilty only to count six, which relates to escaping from lawful custody.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the case to January 26, 2026, but added that the defendant should remain in the custody of the DSS pending the next hearing.
Residents of Otite said they were happy with the DSS for re-arresting the Ansaru leader and for the swiftness with which the secret police arraigned him, saying the moves showed that “the DSS has indeed changed.”

Said one of the community leaders, “In fact, before now, we had given up on ever getting justice. And you won’t blame us. After attacking the Deeper Life Church in our town, they moved to attack banks in Uromi. We were, therefore, thrilled to hear that he was arrested.
"The many years that Obadaki spent without trial began to sow seeds of doubt in our hearts." If you Google Otite today, what you’ll see is that terrorists attacked our Deeper Life Bible Church. We still live with the scars of that attack. The next thing we heard in 2022 was that he escaped during the Kuje jailbreak,” continued the community leader.
“Suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, we heard in mid-November that the DSS recaptured him. Given all that we have heard concerning the new DSS leadership and the way the new leadership quickly arranged itself, our cautious optimism has since given way to rekindled faith and hope that true change has come. Somehow, we believe that things will be different this time around, and we will get justice from our courts,” he affirmed.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2025/12/victims-survivors-laud-dss-for-speeding-up-trial-of-suspected-deeper-life-attackers/amp/

Since he was appointed Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) in late August 2024, Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi has demonstrated an unmistakable commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.

Unlike in previous years when the SSS was notorious for serial harassment, intimidation, and arrests of journalists, the agency under Mr Ajayi’s leadership has shown remarkable restraint, professionalism, and openness to dialogue. Conflicts between the Service and the media are now resolved amicably, through engagement rather than coercion.

A few examples illustrate this transformation.

Barely hours into his tenure, one of our colleagues, Adejuwon Soyinka, was intercepted and detained in Lagos. Within hours of IPI Nigeria bringing the matter to his attention, Mr Ajayi directed the Lagos Command to release the journalist immediately.

For decades, our member Lanre Arogundade had suffered humiliating treatment at Nigeria’s borders, having been placed on the SSS watchlist since the 1980s. Despite years of advocacy, assurances that his name had been removed proved to be untrue. Shortly after assuming office, Mr Ajayi received a formal complaint from IPI Nigeria and acted swiftly—permanently deleting Mr Arogundade’s name from the watchlist.

In the Order Paper case, the SSS arrested a staff member of the newspaper following an inaccurate report that alleged the Service had invaded the National Assembly to facilitate the removal of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Once notified, Mr Ajayi immediately ordered that the detained journalist be granted administrative bail. Through constructive engagement, the matter was later resolved, all charges filed in court were withdrawn, and the case was closed.

There was also a case involving one of our colleagues who became entangled in a personal matter unrelated to journalism. He was arrested alongside an associate. Acting on humanitarian grounds, we sought the DG’s intervention. Mr Ajayi obliged and ordered his release.

In February 2025, the SSS contacted IPI Nigeria, accusing several media organisations of publishing falsehoods about its role in the Lagos Assembly crisis. Though understandably aggrieved, the DG worked patiently and collaboratively with us to resolve the dispute. The agency provided evidence that it had been invited by the Assembly leadership to secure the complex, and the matter was amicably settled without confrontation.

In October 2025, without any prompting from IPI Nigeria, Mr Ajayi ordered disciplinary action against officers involved in the arrest and detention of two journalists from Jay 101.9 FM, a private radio station in Jos. He subsequently caused the SSS to issue a formal apology to the journalists and their organisation.

For these and other reasons, we are honouring Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi today. We do so not only to acknowledge his commendable press freedom credentials but also to encourage him to do even more, and to inspire other officials, institutions, and organisations to emulate his example.

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/840736-full-detail-why-ipi-nigeria-gave-sss-dg-oluwatosin-ajayi-commendation-award.html

Blame the judiciary for slow processes

Gotocourt:
Disgraced country, why did it take Trump's warning for DSS to get a speedy trial for terrorism detainees 🤷🏿.

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Friday, admitted in evidence three video clips supplied by the Department of State Services (DSS) to puncture claims of duress by five suspected masterminds of the 2011 bombing of the United Nations (UN) complex in Abuja facing trial.

The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, fixed December 5 for continuation of the trial-within-trial of five defendants, including Khalid Al‑Barnawi.

The trial-within-trial, will involve the playback of video clips in the courtroom to determine the veracity of claims by the defendants that they made their extra-judicial statements before the DSS under duress.

The DSS accused the five terrorism suspects, led Al-Barnawi, of being the masterminds of the August 26, 2011, bombing of the UN Complex in Abuja with atleast 20 people were killed and more than 70 others injured in the attack.

Captured in 2016, Al-Barnawi is facing trial alongside four other terror suspects – Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello aka Datti, Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu aka Bello Maishayi.

The trial suffered several delays due to legal and procedural challenges thrown up by the defendants, including the absence of legal representation on several occasions the suspects were brought to court; however, all that changed with the appointment of Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi as director general DSS.

Ajayi insisted on speedy trial for suspects he inherited as well as for those arrested under his watch.

The DSS recently requested the court to grant accelerated hearing in the case, a request Justice Nwite granted, same way judges trying DSS cases against terror suspects Mahmud Muhammad Usman aka Mahmuda, Muhammed Usman aka Abu Bara’a, as well as those standing trial in the Yelwata and Benue massacres, have obliged the DSS DG’s request for speedy trial.

Following the conclusion of playing back the video clip of the first defendant, Justice Nwite fixed December 5 for the commencement of playing back the video clips of the on other defendants.

Earlier on Friday, Justice Nwite had admitted the extra-judicial statements made by three other persons charged by the DSS for alleged terrorism.

The trio are being tried for allegedly spying on the US, and Israel s interests for certain individuals in Iran.

Haruna Ali Abbas, Ibrahim Hussaini Musa and Adam Sulaiman were accused of spying on the US, and Israel ‘s interests for individuals in Iran.

The case, which had been ongoing since 2014 and re-assigned multiple times, reached a point in August 2025 during a trial-within-trial to determine if the defendants’ alleged extra-judicial statements were made voluntarily or under duress.

While the defendants claimed that they were coerced, harassed and intimidated to make their statement, the prosecution held that the statements were made voluntarily.

The prosecution claimed that the accused persons read through the statements, through the cautionary words and signed, hence, should be admitted in evidence.

Justice Nwite who ordered a trial within trial allowed both parties to call witnesses who gave evidence.

The prosecution, which called three witnesses said they conducted their operations within the best standard procedure, paid attention to the welfare of suspects in their custody in terms of food and medication while also allowing them access to their families.

The defendants on the other hand recounted their alleged torture in the DSS facility, alleging that they were beaten and given inhuman treatment.

Source: https://blueprint.ng/un-bombing-court-admits-evidence-in-dss-case-against-al-barnawi-other-terrorism-suspects/

The Niger State government has begun investigating why the principal of St. Mary's Catholic School, Agwara, flouted its security directive that, in view of security concerns, all boarding schools in the northern senatorial district of the state remain shut.

The probe was launched a few hours after gunmen stormed the school early Friday morning, kidnapping an unspecified number of the school's pupils.

The attack on St. Mary's Catholic School followed the pattern of a similar one earlier in the week on a government school in Kebbi, despite security alerts by the Department of State Services (DSS) that there was a likelihood of terrorists attacking soft targets like schools.

Secretary to the Niger State government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, in a statement on Friday morning, confirmed the kidnap of an unspecified number of pupils in St. Mary's Catholic School in Agwara LGA. The kidnapping occurred a few days after suspected terrorists kidnapped students of a girls' college in neighboring Kebbi State.

Said the SSG, "This unfortunate incident comes despite a prior intelligence report obtained by the government indicating an increased threat level in parts of the Niger North Senatorial District.

"In response to these credible security alerts, the State Government had earlier issued a clear directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools within the affected zone as a precautionary measure.

He continued, "Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk.

"The government urges school proprietors, community leaders, and all stakeholders to adhere strictly to security advisories issued in the interest of public safety. The protection of lives, especially those of our children, remains the utmost priority of this administration.

"Security agencies have since commenced a full-scale investigation and search-and-rescue operations to ensure the safe return of the pupils. The Niger State Government is in close communication with all relevant security formations and will provide continuous updates as more information becomes available," assured the SSG.

Security sources disclosed that they were strongly considering the theory of sabotage by the school management.

One of the sources stated, "We are not ruling out sabotage." As early as in August, the DSS shared intel with sister security agencies in the state on the plan by Ansaru/ISWAP terrorists to attack schools in the Borgu Area. The state government ordered schools in the area shut.

This attack appeared to reveal the widening gap between intelligence provided by the DSS, on the one hand, and its implementation on the other, stated a security analyst.

"St. Mary's Catholic School is owned by an Irish priest. He established the primary section in May 2008 and the secondary section two years later. He owns another Catholic school in Kigbara, Borgu LGA.

"On the heels of the DSS security advisory, the schools' owner shut down and relocated. What is puzzling is why the principal of St. Mary's Catholic School, Papiri, one Felicia Diyah, unilaterally reopened St. Mary's school without informing the proprietor.

"Even without any advisory, any rational person would have shut down the school given that a girls' school in neighbouring Kebbi was attacked early this week. More troubling is that she was said to have travelled to Abuja on Thursday, a few hours before the attack," noted the source, adding, "In this era of probes by the US Congress on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria', anything is possible.

Meanwhile, the military high command has launched a separate probe into how heavily armed soldiers deployed to protect students of Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, reportedly abandoned their duty post barely thirty minutes before gunmen attacked the school, killed the vice principal, and abducted 22 girls.

They are a staff sergeant, two sergeants, two corporals (names withheld), and two private soldiers.

https://thenaijanews.ng/2025/11/21/niger-state-govt-launches-probe-after-attack-on-school-that-defied-shut-down-directive/

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to life imprisonment.

Justice Omotosho delivered the judgment on Thursday, four years after Kanu was arrested in Kenya under contentious circumstances and brought back to Nigeria.

He was subsequently charged with seven counts bordering on terrorism

The judgement was delivered in Kanu’s absence after the IPOB leader insisted that the judgement would not be delivered in the terrorism charge the Federal Government entered against him.

Due to the drama that ensued, the presiding judge ordered security agents to bundle him out of the court room for ‘unruly behaviour.’

Omotosho stated that several broadcasts by Kanu, through Radio Biafra, constituted acts of terrorism, adding that his rhetoric and intention were anchored on violence.

The judge also asserted that Kanu’s sit-at-home order in South-Eastern states amounted to terrorism, stressing that the order violated South-easterners’ freedom of movement.

Justice Omotosho maintained that the IPOB leader lacked the constitutional power to order people to sit at home.

According to Justice Omotosho, from the evidence before the court, Kanu carried out preparatory terrorism via his broadcasts through which he order the killing of police officers and military officers.

The court said the IPOB leader is found guilty of committing acts of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2025/11/breaking-court-sentences-nnamdi-kanu-to-life-imprisonment/amp/

Breaking! DSS Recaptures Ansaru Terrorist and Mastermind behind Church Mass Shooting

The Department of State Services (DSS) has recaptured a top commander of the Ansari terrorist group, Abdulazeez Obadaki, believed to have masterminded the August 7, 2012, mass shooting of Christian worshippers at a Deeper Life Bible Church near Okene, in Kogi State.

At least 19 worshippers, including the pastor, were killed, with several others sustaining varying degrees of injuries after three men armed with AK-47 rifles walked into the church and opened fire on the worshippers.

Security sources said Obadaki, who, after the church mass shooting, also masterminded another attack on five commercial banks in Uromi, Edo State, was arrested but escaped during the July 2022 jailbreak at Kuje Custodial Centre.

Security sources disclosed that the suspected terrorist leader confessed to orchestrating the Kuje Custodial Centre jailbreak following his transfer from Kabba Custodial Centre in June 2022.

According to the sources, after over three years of being on the run, DSS operatives in a well-oiled intelligence operation recaptured Obadaki, aka Bomboy, on Friday morning.

This arrest comes barely two months after the secret police arraigned five suspects linked to the 2022 Catholic Church attack in Owo, Ondo State.

During the February 2022 daylight bank robberies in Uromi, Edo State, which instilled widespread fear across the region, several policemen and bank customers were killed, while hundreds of millions of Naira were reportedly carted away.
The secret police have, of late, been recording a chain of successes in the capture of terrorists and criminal elements across the nation, with its new leadership fast-tracking the trial of the arrested suspects.

By Samuel Ogbonna, Esq.

Nnamdi Kanu’s latest courtroom offensive against the Department of State Services (DSS) is built on shaky legal ground. His argument that the agency cannot try him while allegedly disobeying a Court of Appeal order for his release may sound compelling to the public, but it doesn’t hold up under Nigerian law.

Kanu leans on the famous English case Hadkinson v. Hadkinson (1952), which says a party in contempt cannot be heard until the contempt is purged. But that rule isn’t absolute, certainly not in a criminal or constitutional setting like his. Nigerian courts have consistently held that justice cannot be frozen just because one party is accused of contempt. As the Supreme Court ruled in First Bank v. TSA Industries (2010), the “Hadkinson principle” must bend where public interest or fair hearing is at stake.

In other words, that alone doesn’t stop the Attorney-General of the Federation from pursuing prosecution, as Section 174 of the Constitution gives the AGF wide powers to initiate and continue criminal cases in the name of the state. Until a higher court expressly nullifies the process, the wheels of prosecution keep turning.

Kanu’s persistent claim that the DSS is monitoring his meetings with his lawyers could be tactical, designed to pressure the court into transferring him out of DSS custody to a more lenient detention facility, such as a correctional centre, where oversight is lighter and access is broader. It’s a smart legal play, by framing his detention as hostile to fair trial, he seeks to shift the venue of his custody, not just to gain comfort, but to weaken the state’s security hold.

As for the allegation that the DSS forged his medical report, that too appears to be another calculated move in Kanu’s wider strategy, a bid to discredit both the security agency and the court whenever the proceedings don’t go his way. Forgery is a grave criminal accusation, but without evidence, it’s little more than courtroom theatre.

Under the Evidence Act, such a claim must be proven beyond reasonable doubt through expert testimony or forensic proof, not emotion or conjecture. By throwing this allegation into the mix, Kanu seems intent on casting doubt on every process linked to the DSS, painting the agency as corrupt and untrustworthy, while subtly pressuring the court to bend toward his narrative. It’s a familiar tactic, turn the accuser into the accused, and the law into a public spectacle.

The bigger picture is this: the law doesn’t operate on emotions or political sentiment. Kanu’s legal strategy seems aimed more at public sympathy than courtroom success. Contempt allegations, monitored meetings, and disputed medical reports may stir outrage, but they don’t automatically stop a prosecution.

At the end of the day, the DSS and the Attorney-General still hold the constitutional mandate to pursue criminal charges, and until a superior court says otherwise, that mandate stands.

Kanu’s fight is far from over, but legally speaking, his latest arguments look more like a political statement than a winning defense.

In a dramatic twist following the poorly attended protests in parts of Abuja led by African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu has decided to take charge of his own defence.

Kanu, who is standing trial for alleged treasonable offences, made this known on Tuesday, just days after filing a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to continue his trial. The objection came on the same day a medical panel appointed by the court declared him fit to face trial.

However, in a fresh motion personally filed on October 21, Kanu informed the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, that he was ready to open his defence “in compliance with the order of this honourable court made on October 16, 2025, directing the defendant to commence his defence on October 24, 2025.”

The embattled IPOB leader revealed plans to call 23 witnesses divided into two groups, the first being “ordinary but material witnesses,” and the second category described as “vital and compellable,” to be summoned under Section 232 of the Evidence Act (2011).

The notice, personally signed by Kanu, hinted that he might have dismissed his legal team led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN). He requested a 90-day period to enable him conclude his defence, stating his intent to testify personally, deny the allegations against him, and explain the political context of his statements and actions.

Among those Kanu listed as compellable witnesses are prominent figures including:

Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), former Minister of Defence

Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo)

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory

Dave Umahi, Minister of Works

Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, former Governor of Abia State

Abubakar Malami (SAN), immediate past Attorney-General of the Federation

Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, former DG of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA)

Yusuf Magaji Bichi, current DG of the DSS


Kanu also mentioned there were other unnamed witnesses whose identities would be disclosed in due course.

He assured the court that he would submit sworn statements from all voluntary witnesses and notify the prosecution promptly, adding that his goal was to ensure “justice is not only done but manifestly seen to have been done.”

Interestingly, Kanu’s latest move came the same day a magistrate court in Abuja ordered the remand of his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, and 12 others arrested during the protest demanding his release.

The police charged them with criminal conspiracy, disobedience of lawful orders, inciting disturbance, and public nuisance, offences contrary to Sections 152, 114, and 113 of the Penal Code.

Those remanded include Ejimakor, Kanu’s brother Emmanuel Kanu, and others identified as Joshua Emmanuel, Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, Godwill Obioma, and Chima Onuchukwu.

After briefly standing down the matter, the magistrate ordered their remand at Kuje Correctional Centre and adjourned the case until October 24 for arraignment.