Secret Police, DSS Officers Celebrate over Resignation of Former Director-General, Yusuf Bichi

On Monday, President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of new Directors-General for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Following this announcement, a video emerged showing personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS) celebrating the resignation of the former Director-General, Yusuf Bichi. In the video, DSS staff can be seen cheering, dancing, and exchanging congratulatory messages in response to the news of Bichi’s departure.

According to the President’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement released on Monday, “Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed has been appointed as the new Director-General of the NIA, while Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi is the new Director-General of the DSS.” Ambassador Mohammed’s career in the foreign service began in 1995, and he has held various positions within the NIA, including his most recent role as head of the Nigerian mission to Libya.

Independent checks by SaharaReporters confirmed the authenticity of the viral video, linking it to the ongoing celebration among DSS personnel over Bichi’s resignation. The video has sparked discussions on social media, with many users noting that Bichi’s leadership style and policies had caused divisions and dissatisfaction among DSS staff.

One user, Thεό Abu, commented, “DSS Personnel celebrating the removal of DSS DG, Bichi. The new DG must do everything possible to make this organization work for the good of Nigeria.” Another user, A. Ayofe, expressed disbelief upon receiving the video, captioning it with, “When a friend sent this to me about their people celebrating the removal of DSS DG, Bichi, I didn’t believe it until I saw this video.”

Human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore also weighed in, expressing hope that the next official to be removed would be the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. He remarked, “The @OfficialDSSNG officials here are jubilant over the removal of Son-Of-A-Bich-i (this is how I addressed him while I was detained at the DSS HQ), but these are the same officers sent to do all the dirty jobs, and they’ll carry them out ‘diligently.’ Wait until the current IG of @policeng, Kayode Egbetokun, is retired (hopefully next week or when he’s eventually disgraced out of office), and you will see senior police officers throwing their berets in the air in jubilation.”

Sowore further criticized Egbetokun, accusing him of favoritism towards Yoruba officers in key assignments, and drew parallels between Egbetokun’s leadership and that of President Tinubu, using the Yoruba phrase “Esusu Igbalode” to describe their governance style.