The Department of State Services has distanced itself from reports alleging that one of its operatives was involved in abduction, defilement of a minor and abuse of office.
CAPTION: In a statement signed by Favour Dozie, Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, the Service clarified that it has no employment record of one Ifeanyi Festus, whose name appeared in the reports.
The DSS, however, confirmed that an active staff member, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, has been arrested over allegations that he forcefully converted and married a woman identified as Walida Abdulhadi.
The Service stressed that the alleged conduct runs contrary to its regulations and code of conduct, noting that a full investigation is ongoing.
According to the DSS, the outcome of the investigation will be made public upon conclusion.
The development follows a petition dated January 4, 2026, by Abuja-based law firm Gamji Lawchain, written to the DSS Director-General on behalf of Alhaji Abdulhadi Ibrahim and his family. The petition claims the girl, Walida Abdulhadi, went missing from Hadejia, Jigawa State more than two years ago while still a minor, and that the family’s prolonged search ended in renewed alarm after an alleged call on January 1, 2026 in which the suspect reportedly told her father she had been with him, had a child, and he was “ready to marry her.” The petition further alleges the family’s representative was taken to a DSS facility/estate in Abuja and denied access as the family demand her release.
Editor: Ada Ononye
