DSS Directors Meet in Kaduna, Map Out Fresh Strategies to Tackle N’West Insecurity
Directors of the Department of State Services (DSS) from across the North-West geopolitical zone have converged on Kaduna to deliberate on new strategies to address the persistent insecurity caused by banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes in the region.
The high-level meeting, which commenced on Thursday at the DSS zonal command office along Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Way (formerly WAFF Road), brought together state directors from Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Representatives from the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Plateau states were also in attendance.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, who was represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN), declared the conference open.
The event also featured the participation of heads of various security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Nigeria Customs Service.
In his opening remarks, Governor Sani lauded the DSS as “the invisible backbone of Nigeria’s internal stability,” noting that the agency has consistently played a crucial role in safeguarding democracy and forestalling threats across the nation.
He emphasised that intelligence-led collaboration remains the most effective strategy for neutralising security challenges in the North-West, urging security agencies to enhance synergy, trust, and data sharing.
“This conference offers an opportunity for reflection, coordination, and strategic renewal,” he said. “Kaduna has consistently prioritised intelligence-driven approaches, working closely with the DSS and other agencies to prevent violent extremism, sabotage, and misinformation.”
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The governor further called for the adoption of non-kinetic peacebuilding measures, including community engagement, preventive diplomacy, and counter-narrative campaigns, stressing that “peace must be pursued through justice, development, and inclusion.”
The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, commended the DSS for its sustained collaboration with traditional institutions in resolving community-level disputes. He revealed that through DSS-supported alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, the Zazzau Emirate had successfully decongested its courts by over 2,000 cases in the past two years.
Bamalli also praised the service’s vetting process for traditional leaders, noting that it had helped eliminate unfit officials. “It’s better to get rid of them early than to allow them to exploit their people,” the Emir remarked.
Representing the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major-General Mohammed Wase, the Garrison Commander, Brigadier-General Mohammed Kana, acknowledged that military operations against bandits and terrorists had improved significantly due to timely and actionable intelligence from the DSS.
In his welcome address, Kaduna State Director of the DSS, Mr. Hakeem Abiola, said the conference was convened to review operational challenges and strengthen coordination among security formations in the zone.
Abiola highlighted the reforms introduced under the leadership of the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, noting that the agency had deepened its kinetic and non-kinetic interventions, including community-based peace initiatives aimed at “winning hearts and minds.”
He added that consistent engagement with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society organisations has been key to maintaining stability in Kaduna State. “Through regular interactions with JNI, CAN, and community leaders, we have resolved sensitive disputes before they escalated,” Abiola said.
The North-West region has been among the hardest hit by banditry and kidnapping in recent years. The DSS conference is expected to produce new operational strategies and strengthen intelligence-sharing frameworks to enhance security coordination across the region.
By PRNigeria
