In a dramatic twist that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s security apparatus, a Department of State Services (DSS) officer revealed how three officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were implicated in a deadly network of kidnapping and banditry operations in Oyo State.
Testifying before Justice N.E. Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan on Monday, Mr. Stephen Okolo, a DSS official, outlined how the agency’s surveillance technology was crucial in unearthing the involvement of the NSCDC personnel in a terror group that has wreaked havoc across Okeogun, Oyo State, and parts of Kwara.
The trial centers on four individuals: Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale, and Asmau Omar—three officials of the NSCDC—and Emmanuel Olatunji, an unlicensed arms dealer. All four are facing 15-count charges, including conspiracy, terrorism, unlawful arms dealing, and aiding and abetting terrorism.
Okolo’s testimony brought disturbing revelations to light, suggesting that corruption and betrayal had seeped into Nigeria’s security forces.
“The operation that led to the arrest of these individuals began in January 2023,” Okolo explained. “We deployed our technical equipment, using sustained surveillance to track and arrest criminals involved in kidnapping and banditry. Through our efforts, we identified key players, including two notorious terrorists—Baguda and Banshile—operating in the region.”
The DSS officer described how their intelligence efforts led to the identification and eventual arrest of one Lawan Buhari, a member of the notorious terrorist group, and one NSCDC official who allegedly facilitated the supply of weapons to these criminal elements.
Further operations uncovered a troubling connection between the NSCDC officers and terrorist networks operating in the region.
In a chilling piece of evidence, Okolo presented a bag containing 1000 rounds of live ammunition that had been seized from Buhari. He stated that the confiscated weapons had been intended for delivery to the terror group, thus thwarting a major source of firepower for the criminals.
“Breaking the supply chain of ammunition significantly reduced the rampant cases of kidnapping and banditry in the area,” Okolo added.
As the trial unfolded, a second key witness, Lawan Buhari, gave his own testimony, implicating the NSCDC officers in the arms supply chain. Buhari, who was arrested and detained at the 81 Battalion Barracks in Mokola, admitted to having supplied firearms—including AK47 rifles and bullets—to the accused NSCDC officers in exchange for significant sums of money.
“Before my arrest, I was working with the Operation Burst security outfit when these officers approached me to start supplying them with weapons,” Buhari told the court.
Buhari further explained that the NSCDC officers had been supplying the ammunition to terrorists operating in the Oyo State and Kwara region, fueling the rise in violent crimes such as kidnapping and banditry. His revelation ties the NSCDC officials to an ongoing pattern of arms trafficking that has escalated insecurity in these areas.
The charges against the four defendants are serious, carrying potential sentences of life imprisonment if found guilty. They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges and are awaiting further court proceedings.
DSS prosecution counsel, Mr. T.A. Nurudeen, highlighted the severity of the case, which involves criminal collaboration between government officers and terrorist organizations. “This is a conspiracy of the highest order,” he remarked, “and we will continue to pursue justice to ensure that those who betray their oaths of office and endanger the lives of Nigerians are held accountable.”
The defense team for the accused, however, has denied the charges, with lawyers for the NSCDC officials asserting that their clients are innocent and victims of a conspiracy aimed at tarnishing their reputations. The case has raised concerns over the growing vulnerability of Nigeria’s security agencies to internal corruption, with the potential for more damning revelations to come. It also underscores the increasing role of technology in law enforcement, as the DSS continues to track and dismantle criminal networks using sophisticated surveillance techniques.
