DSS Directors hold strategic meeting in Kaduna to tackle escalating insecurity in North-West
Senior directors of the Department of State Services (DSS) from the North-West geopolitical zone have gathered in Kaduna for a high-level security conference aimed at developing new strategies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes ravaging the region.
The meeting, which began on Thursday at the DSS office complex along Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Way (formerly WAFF Road), brought together directors from Kebbi, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states.
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, declared the session open through his representative, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Sule Shuaibu (SAN). Also in attendance were representatives from the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Plateau states, alongside top officials of the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, Civil Defence Corps, Customs Service, and Federal Road Safety Corps.
Governor Sani lauded the DSS as “the invisible backbone of Nigeria’s internal stability,” noting that intelligence-led collaboration remains the most potent weapon against insecurity. He urged security agencies to invest in advanced data analysis, inter-agency trust, and technology-driven intelligence systems.
“This conference offers an opportunity for reflection, coordination, and strategic renewal,” the governor said. He further advocated non-kinetic approaches to peacebuilding — such as community engagement, preventive diplomacy, and counter-narratives — stressing that “peace must be pursued through justice, development, and inclusion.”
The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Bamalli, praised the DSS for its collaboration with traditional institutions in resolving community disputes. He disclosed that DSS-backed alternative dispute resolution initiatives had helped decongest Zazzau Emirate courts by more than 2,000 cases within two years.
Representing the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Wase, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Kana highlighted the military’s recent successes in the region, attributing them to actionable intelligence provided by the DSS.
In his welcome remarks, the Kaduna DSS Director, Mr. Hakeem Abiola, explained that the zonal meeting was convened to assess operational challenges and enhance coordination among security formations. He commended the leadership of the Director-General, Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for advancing both kinetic and non-kinetic security operations, including community-based peace initiatives aimed at “winning hearts and minds.”
Abiola also underscored the importance of sustained engagement with traditional rulers, religious bodies, and civil society organisations to prevent crises. “Through regular dialogue with JNI, CAN, and community leaders, we’ve been able to resolve sensitive disputes before they escalate,” he said.
The North-West region continues to grapple with insecurity, with banditry and kidnapping posing severe threats to lives and livelihoods. The DSS meeting in Kaduna is expected to produce renewed strategies to strengthen intelligence sharing and reinforce the fight against these persistent challenges.
