Not Our Operation!’ – DSS Distances Itself from Kanu’s Mysterious Capture Abroad

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disassociated itself from the controversial arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in Kenya, asserting that its mandate is limited strictly to operations within Nigeria’s borders.

This clarification emerged during the cross-examination of a prosecution witness identified by the codename “BBB,” an intelligence officer from the DSS. When questioned about the agency’s capacity to operate outside Nigeria, particularly in relation to Kanu’s 2021 arrest, BBB categorically denied any foreign involvement.

“We do not have the authority to carry out arrests beyond Nigerian territory,” the witness stated, refuting allegations that the DSS orchestrated Kanu’s alleged abduction in Kenya. Kanu had previously claimed he was forcibly taken from Kenya and returned to Nigeria.

Further explaining the agency’s structure, BBB noted that the DSS operates under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and functions independently of political control. He emphasized that neither ministers nor the Attorney General have the authority to influence DSS operations.

Regarding intelligence gathering, BBB stated that the DSS sources information from human intelligence, social media platforms, and other channels. He affirmed that DSS operatives are extensively trained in intelligence collection.

The testimony also linked Kanu’s broadcasts on Radio Biafra to incitement and unrest, particularly during the 2020 EndSARS protests. BBB alleged that Kanu had openly declared his willingness to achieve Biafra through any means, including violence.

The witness attributed several violent incidents—such as the burning of a police station in Ebonyi State, the Lagos State High Court, and a cargo facility at Murtala Mohammed Airport—to the provocative rhetoric in Kanu’s broadcasts.