Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has directed personnel of the secret police to cease making arrests in civil matters.
In a media interview on Thursday reported by The Sun, the DSS DG explained that the directive forms part of broader measures aimed at strengthening the agency’s adherence to the rule of law and improving its human rights record.
The DSS chief highlighted reforms introduced across five core pillars during his tenure: law enforcement, accountability, inter-agency collaboration, human rights compliance, and administrative and infrastructural upgrades designed to boost operational efficiency.
He noted that these structural changes have enhanced the service’s capacity to clearly delineate civil disputes from criminal offenses.
Ajayi emphasized that using force in civil disputes is inappropriate, drawing from his professional experience to acknowledge that the DSS had previously blurred the boundaries between civil matters and criminal enforcement.
“You cannot apply the use of force in civil matters. Even some criminal matters don’t require force,” he said.
He cited the case of political economist Prof. Pat Utomi, who faced accusations of attempting to establish a “shadow government,” noting that the DSS opted to seek judicial interpretation rather than carry out an arrest.
Additionally, he referenced an incident involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), where the group initiated legal action following allegations that two DSS operatives had trespassed on its premises.
Ajayi stated that the matter was resolved through the judicial system without making any arrests, with the court ultimately awarding SERAP over N100 million in damages.
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Backstory…
The change comes against the backdrop of longstanding criticism of the DSS over arbitrary arrests, detention and alleged violations of human rights and press freedom.
The DSS DG said his administration has therefore placed greater emphasis on accountability and respect for human rights, while directing the agency’s operational focus towards terrorism and other serious criminal threats.
