DSS Dismisses 115 Personnel in Major Reform Sweep

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s premier domestic security agency, has announced the dismissal of 115 personnel as part of an ongoing internal reform initiative.

In a statement released today, the agency said it’s a significant move to purge the organization of misconduct and fraudulent activities.

The DSS statement builds on earlier actions taken in October 2025, when two former officers, Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, were arrested for impersonating active agents and engaging in fraudulent schemes.

The agency has warned the public to avoid official dealings with the dismissed personnel, some of whom may still be posing as legitimate DSS operatives. For transparency, the full list of dismissed individuals has been published on the DSS website with contact options provided for inquiries or complaints, including a hotline (09088373515) and email (dsspr@dss.gov.ng).

The dismissals come amid growing scrutiny of Nigeria’s security apparatus, with recent reports highlighting allegations of misconduct and procedural irregularities within the agency. A 2025 Wikipedia entry on the DSS noted concerns over recruitment biases favoring certain regions, a issue that may have prompted the current reforms.

While the agency did not specify the reasons for each dismissal, the move aligns with broader governmental efforts to enforce accountability, as evidenced by the U.S. Department of State’s January 2025 report, which noted that proven misconduct in Nigerian public services often leads to administrative sanctions, including dismissals.