By Sandra Ugwu | November 9, 2025

The Federal Government has dismissed 115 officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) over various offences, including fraud, indiscipline, and certificate forgery.

According to security sources, the dismissed officers were found guilty of misconducts capable of undermining the integrity of the secret service. Some were accused of leaking official information, while others allegedly falsified academic and birth certificates.

The DSS announced the dismissals earlier in the week via its official X handle, publishing the names and photographs of the affected officers, and warned the public against having any official dealings with them.

Insiders revealed that the move is part of an internal cleansing exercise led by the current Director-General, Adeola Ajayi, aimed at restoring discipline and integrity within the agency. “Some of the dismissed officers had become rogue elements, and the DG is determined to reform the service,” a senior DSS source disclosed.

It was also gathered that about 20 per cent of the affected personnel had relocated abroad without proper resignation, while others were implicated in certificate-related fraud.

A former DSS Director, Mike Ejiofor, described the action as part of ongoing reforms within the service. However, security expert Kabir Adamu criticised the publication of the officers’ photos, saying it violates counter-espionage principles and could expose them to danger.

Adamu warned that revealing the identities of the dismissed officers could make them targets for revenge attacks or recruitment by hostile intelligence networks and terrorist groups.

The recent development follows the arrest of two former DSS officers -Barry Donald and Victor Godwin, who were apprehended last month for impersonating DSS personnel to defraud unsuspecting citizens.

The DSS has reiterated its commitment to discipline, professionalism, and the protection of national security.