Insecurity: How far can Ajayi, Mohammed go as DSS, NIA heads?

THE polity was jolted, weekend, when two of the longest serving service chiefs in the last 10 years, Mr. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, and Mr. Y. M. Bichi, his counterpart in the Department of State Service, DSS, resigned their positions, citing family and personal reasons.

Until their resignations, the duo were the remaining service chiefs President Bola Tinubu inherited from the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Interestingly, both of them were appointed in 2018. Their duties were also similar. While the DSS is responsible for domestic intelligence, the NIA coordinates foreign intelligence and counter-intelligence operations.

In the history of the DSS, Bichi, who hails from Kano State, was the second longest-serving D-G. He was in the saddle for six years between September 14, 2018, to August 24, 2024.

Bichi was two years shy of Col. Kayode Are’s eight years (May 1999 to August 2007).

In like manner, Abubakar’s six and a half years (January 10, 2018 – August 24, 2024) makes him the second longest serving NIA D-G, after Mr. Uche Okeke, who, like Are of the DSS, clocked eight years (1999 -2007).

The polity was awash with strident calls on President Tinubu to change the service chiefs, as insecurity worsened, following his assumption of office on May 29, 2023.

He responded with alacrity by appointing Malam Nuhu Ribadu as National Security Adviser about three weeks later. He also removed other service chiefs, sparing Bichi and Abubakar.

However, following their resignations, President Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed as the new NIA D-G, and Adeola Ajayi as the new DSS boss.

Mohammed, a seasoned foreign service officer, has had a distinguished career spanning over two decades, serving in various roles and countries, including North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan and Libya, according to the statement by Ngelale.
Similarly, Ajayi rose through the ranks in the DSS, serving as state director in several states, including Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers and Kogi.

With their appointments, Mohammed and Ajayi have huge tasks on their hands.

Given the dizzying pace internal security issues have taken, growing threats of insecurity from Nigeria’s neighbours in the West Africa sub-region such as Niger Republic, Burkina Faso and Chad, Mohammed must hit the ground running.

Internally, Nigeria is still mired in a security pool with terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, Boko Haram insurgents wreaking havoc in many parts of the country.

Ajayi is expected to come in with fresh ideas that would help the security agencies tame these criminals