Insecurity: Governors, DSS to Strengthen Intelligence Sharing
In a bid to address the worsening insecurity across Nigeria, state governors have resolved to enhance intelligence sharing and strengthen collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS) to tackle insurgency, kidnapping, and banditry more effectively.
The decision was reached at a closed-door meeting held in Abuja between members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Director-General of the DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi. The session focused on improving inter-agency coordination, intelligence management, and rapid response mechanisms to curb growing security threats.
According to a communiqué released after the meeting, the governors emphasized the need for real-time intelligence exchange between states and federal security agencies to prevent attacks before they occur.
“Security challenges in our states require a unified approach. We have agreed to deepen collaboration with the DSS and other security institutions to strengthen intelligence gathering and ensure timely action,” the communiqué stated.
Bichi, who briefed the governors on the agency’s counterterrorism and anti-banditry strategies, assured that the DSS was committed to working closely with state governments to address regional peculiarities in tackling crime.
“We cannot secure Nigeria without synergy. Intelligence is only effective when shared and acted upon quickly,” Bichi said.
The meeting also discussed the rising cases of kidnapping for ransom, the proliferation of illegal arms, and the infiltration of criminal elements into rural communities. The DSS chief urged governors to invest in local intelligence networks, community policing, and technology-driven surveillance to enhance early warning systems.
Some governors also proposed the creation of state-level security intelligence units that would liaise directly with federal agencies for quicker response to security incidents.
The development comes amid growing public pressure on authorities to stem the tide of violent crimes nationwide, particularly in the North-West, North-Central, and South-East regions, where attacks have intensified in recent months.
Security experts have lauded the renewed partnership, describing it as a vital step toward improving national security architecture and building trust between security agencies and local communities.
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