President Muhammadu Buhari has named a new head for the Department of State Security Service (DSS).
The new Director-General is Yusuf Magaji Bichi, Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said in a statement, yesterday.
The new head replaces Matthew Seiyeifa, who has been operating in acting capacity since Lawal Daura was dismissed.
A statement signed by Shehu reads in full statement: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved with effect from the 14th of September, the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as new Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS, popularly called DSS).
“The appointee is a core Secret Service operative.
“He attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he graduated with a degree in Political Science.
“The new Director-General began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO), the precursor of the present SSS.
“Mr. Bichi has undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.
“The new SSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.
“In the course of his career, Mr. Bichi has worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.
“He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.
“He also served as Director at State Service Academy.
“Mr Bichi is married and with children,” the statement added.
Following the appointment of Yusuf Magaji Bichi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Service, DSS, yesterday, Nigerians have taken to various social media to express their individual opinions on the matter.
However, it would be pertinent to know that Mr. Bichi who is from the northern region of the country has undergone training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.
GarbaShehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, certified Bichi as one who can do the job professionally.
“The new DSS boss comes to the job with skills in intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management”, he said.
But reacting over the appointment approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, the senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, Ben Murray-Bruce criticized the appointment, noting that the principles of Federal Character was not honored and that the acting DG Matthew Seiyefa should have been retained.
His words, “Matthew Seiyefa was the only Southerner heading an Intelligence Agency in Nigeria. He was competent and loyal. In the interest of Federal Character and North South balance, President Buhari should have retained him.
Bichi may be competent, but how can all Intelligence agencies be headed by Northerners? Again, Reno Omkri, former aide to former president Goodluck Jonathan, with Donald Duke, presidential aspirant for the forthcoming election condemned in its entirety Bichi’s appointment.
“I congratulate President @MBuhari for appointing yet another Northerner, Yusuf MagajiBichi, to head the Department of State Security. Whoever doubted Buhari’s 97% versus 7% statement can now see the President is dead set on his Northernisation of government policy” Duke’s words:
“PMB has just appointed Yusuf MagajiBichi as substantive DG SSS. Against the clamour to broaden the heads of our nations security framework, PMB has proven himself an irredeemable irredentist.
“With the appointment of Yusuf MagajiBichi as DSS DG, it has further gone to show that Buhari is nothing but a tribalist with high nepotistic tendency.”