The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested two dismissed officers, identified as Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, for allegedly impersonating serving personnel of the agency and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DSS said the two men—who had been previously dismissed from service—were apprehended after continued warnings to the public about their illegal activities.
The agency said: “The public is hereby notified that these culprits have been apprehended and will face prosecution in accordance with the law.”
It recalled that disclaimers had earlier been issued to alert Nigerians that both Donald and Godwin were no longer in the employ of the Service but had persisted in parading themselves as active operatives.
According to the DSS, the arrests were part of its renewed efforts to clamp down on individuals using the Service’s identity for criminal purposes.
The agency also disclosed plans to publish the names of other previously dismissed personnel to prevent further exploitation of the DSS identity by fraudsters.
“The Service has resolved to release the names of previously dismissed staff to forestall future occurrences and protect innocent citizens from falling victim to impersonators,” the statement added.
The DSS urged the public to remain alert and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest office, noting that the Service remains committed to professionalism, transparency, and accountability in its operations.
It also encouraged Nigerians seeking clarification or wishing to verify the status of any DSS officer to contact the agency through 09088373515 or via email at dsspr@dss.gov.ng.
“We call on members of the public to be vigilant and avoid dealing with anyone claiming DSS affiliation without proper verification,” the statement concluded.
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