New insights have surfaced regarding the abrupt replacement of Ahmed Rufai, the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Yusuf Bichi, the former Director-General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) by President Bola Tinubu. The decision, made public on Monday, has been traced to a series of incidents involving the seizure of Nigerian assets abroad and intelligence failures.
Insiders from the Presidential Villa disclosed that the ousting of Rufai and Bichi was linked to the controversial confiscation of Nigeria’s assets by Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese corporation. This incident was considered a significant embarrassment to the administration, raising questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of Nigeria’s intelligence community.
President Tinubu, evidently displeased with the performance of the intelligence agencies under the two directors, appointed Mohamed Mohammed as the new NIA Director-General and Adeola Ajayi to lead the DSS. It was reported that Rufai’s departure was precipitated by his resignation following a query over the agency’s failure to gather crucial information regarding the foreign legal disputes that led to the asset seizures.
The DSS, under Bichi’s leadership, was also scrutinized for alleged insubordination toward the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Sources indicated that the President was increasingly dissatisfied with the quality of security briefings provided to him, which further undermined his confidence in the agency’s leadership.
When announcing the new appointments, President Tinubu expressed his expectations for the new leaders to significantly improve the operations of both agencies. He emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation among intelligence services and a more integrated approach to national security, particularly with the NSA’s office.
Following the shake-up, a video circulated on social media showing what appeared to be celebrations at the DSS headquarters in Abuja. While some dismissed the footage as old, others insisted it captured the agency’s response to Ajayi’s appointment and Bichi’s exit. A source within the DSS described Ajayi’s appointment as aligning the right individual with the role, citing his deep operational experience and past successes within the agency.
Ajayi, who joined the DSS in 1990, brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served in various leadership capacities across several states. His colleagues describe him as diligent, resilient, and equipped with sharp analytical skills—qualities that will be essential as he takes on the challenges facing the DSS.
Reacting to the leadership changes, security expert Senator Iroegbu praised the President for maintaining stability in the security agencies during his first year in office.
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