DSS Arrests Man in Abuja for Alleged Impersonation, Extortion
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Obodahia Ohanku Felix
ABUJA — The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a man identified as Moferewa Maiye for allegedly impersonating personnel of the Service and using a fake firearm to intimidate and extort motorists and commuters in Abuja.
Maiye, who reportedly claimed to be from Agbajojun Village in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State, was arrested after operatives of the secret police acted on credible intelligence concerning his alleged activities in the Federal Capital Territory.
The suspect was reportedly trailed to a hideout around NITEL Junction, along Adetokunbo Ademola Way, Wuse II, Abuja, where DSS operatives allegedly found him wearing a tactical uniform resembling that of the Service.
He was also reportedly found in possession of a fake pistol.
According to a security source familiar with the development, the suspect allegedly used the uniform and imitation firearm to present himself as a security operative and intimidate commuters, motorists and other members of the public.
The source said his activities allegedly included demanding money from people under the guise of exercising official security powers.
The arrest followed intelligence gathered by the DSS regarding the suspect's alleged impersonation and activities in the area.
During preliminary interrogation, Maiye reportedly told investigators that his late brother, identified as Monday Maiye, was a DSS personnel who died several years ago.
The suspect allegedly claimed that the tactical uniform and other items found in his possession belonged to his deceased brother.
However, the explanation has not brought the investigation to an end, as the DSS is said to be examining how Maiye came into possession of the Service's uniform and whether the items were genuinely inherited from his late brother.
Investigators are also working to establish how long the suspect had allegedly been impersonating DSS personnel and whether other individuals may have been victims of his activities.
The Service is expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the possession of the uniform, the source of the fake pistol and the extent of the alleged extortion.
The incident has again drawn attention to the security challenges associated with the unauthorized use of military and security-service uniforms by individuals seeking to deceive members of the public.
Security uniforms can confer an appearance of official authority, making their misuse particularly concerning in a city such as Abuja, where government institutions, diplomatic missions, businesses and major transport corridors attract large numbers of residents and visitors.
The DSS is responsible for domestic intelligence and national security operations in Nigeria and has consistently warned members of the public against impersonating its personnel or engaging in activities that could undermine national security.
Maiye remains under investigation while the Service works to establish the full circumstances surrounding his alleged impersonation, possession of the tactical uniform and fake weapon, as well as the reported extortion of members of the public.
The suspect is presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Abuja is Nigeria's federal capital and the country's principal administrative centre. The city hosts major government institutions, security agencies, diplomatic missions and other national establishments. Wuse II, where the arrest reportedly occurred, is a busy commercial and residential district within the Federal Capital Territory.
