New information has emerged surrounding the dismissal of 115 officers from the Department of State Services (DSS), following internal investigations that found them guilty of actions capable of compromising the agency’s integrity.
According to multiple security sources who spoke to Sunday Punch, the officers were implicated in offences including fraud, indiscipline, certificate forgery, and leaking classified information.
A senior insider revealed,
“Some of them even leaked official information, which is a serious offence.” Others were found to have submitted forged academic credentials, including birth certificates, fake foreign degrees, and even certificates from religious institutions, as part of their employment records.
Another official added,
“These are bad eggs. Some used forged birth certificates to gain employment. Others attended schools in Benin Republic for only a few months and presented the certificates as degrees. Some even submitted mosque certificates as degree equivalents.”
On Tuesday, the DSS announced the dismissals on its account, sharing photos and dismissal dates of the personnel involved, while warning the public to avoid any official dealings with them. This move marks a notable shift in transparency, as disciplinary measures within the agency were rarely made public before.
The announcement came three weeks after the arrest of two former officers, Barry Donald and Victor Godwin, accused of impersonating DSS personnel to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
Sources indicated that the purge is part of a broader effort by DSS Director-General Adeola Ajayi to restore discipline within the service. A top intelligence officer explained, “Some of the dismissed officers were fast becoming rogues, threatening the service’s integrity. The DSS doesn’t compromise on its reputation. The current DG is reforming the agency and cleansing the system.”
Several of the dismissed personnel had ongoing disciplinary issues prior to Ajayi’s tenure. “Some officers were previously queried or lightly sanctioned, but when the same offences occurred again, the current DG acted decisively,” a DSS member said.
Officials also revealed that around 15–20% of the dismissed officers had traveled abroad without formally resigning. “They were dismissed for improper resignation. The DG aims to instil discipline and address behaviours that were previously ignored,” another insider added.
The DSS released the identities and photos of the dismissed officers to protect the public and prevent misuse of the agency’s name. A senior officer emphasized, “People who are dishonest about their credentials cannot work here. These are trained personnel, and the government is ensuring they do not exploit the DSS name for illicit activities. That is why their photos were made public.”
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