At least three notorious bandits were neutralized on Friday night in Dogon Dawa, located in Mairiga Local Government Area of Niger State, following a meticulously executed ambush by operatives of the Department of State Services.
During the operation, several other bandits sustained gunshot wounds and fled into the surrounding bushes, while DSS personnel recovered three AK-47 rifles and three motorcycles abandoned by the retreating bandits.
Security sources confirmed that the ambush was the outcome of weeks of intelligence gathering, which included the interception and analysis of communication among the bandits by the DSS.
“This operation is just one of many daring efforts carried out by the DSS in the Northwest and Northeast regions, which have resulted in the neutralization or capture of numerous bandits terrorizing innocent people in those areas,” a source revealed. The DSS has also been active in conducting successful operations against the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast, the sources added.
The intelligence gathered by the DSS has been instrumental in aiding the military and other security agencies in eliminating or capturing several terrorists across the country, according to the sources.
“The DSS has played a critical role in reducing the number of ambushes on military and security personnel. This is due to the sharing of intelligence with the military and other security agencies,” the sources stated.
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Mr. Tosin Ajayi as Director-General of the DSS, the agency has intensified its intelligence-gathering efforts and has been proactive in sharing this crucial information with the military and other security forces.
“The successes achieved by the DSS, particularly under the leadership of their new DG, are significant. However, many of these successes go unreported, as the DSS, adhering to its traditional covert operations, has chosen to keep most of their accomplishments out of the public eye,” shared a military officer who requested anonymity.
“The DSS has been incredibly helpful to us in the military,” the officer added.
As part of his ongoing security reforms, President Tinubu has promised to support the DSS in utilizing artificial intelligence to combat insecurity in Nigeria.
He made this pledge during the investiture ceremony of the National Institute for Security Studies Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 graduates in Abuja.
