President Tinubu Appoints New Heads of Secret Police and Intelligence Agency

President Bola Tinubu has made key changes to Nigeria’s intelligence leadership by appointing Adeola Ajayi as the new Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed as the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).

Ajayi takes over from Yusuf Bichi, who had been in the role since 2018, while Mohammed steps in following the resignation of Ahmed Abubakar. Both Bichi and Abubakar were appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, Ajayi has risen through the ranks, serving as DSS State director in multiple states, including Bauchi, Enugu, and Rivers. Meanwhile, Ambassador Mohammed has had an extensive career in the foreign service since 1995, with postings in North Korea, Pakistan, and Sudan, among others.

President Tinubu emphasized the importance of the new leaders working diligently to enhance the performance of their agencies. He urged them to leverage their experience to address Nigeria’s security challenges, stressing the need for close cooperation with other security agencies and alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

These appointments come at a critical time, as the country continues to face various security issues. The new heads of DSS and NIA are expected to address these challenges.

• Army Strikes Terror Hideouts in Northern Nigeria, One Suspect Killed, Weapons Recovered

Nigerian Army troops killed a suspected terrorist and recovered weapons and ammunition during a raid on hideouts in Kaduna, the military announced on Monday.

Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 1 Division, Musa Yahaya, stated that the operation took place on August 25 in several areas, including Sabon Birni, Dogon Dawa, Maidaro, Ngede Alpha, and Rafin Kaji.

“In the firefight that ensued, troops overpowered and neutralized one of the terrorists while others fled with suspected gunshot injuries,” Yahaya said.

The troops seized four AK-47 magazines, a PKT belt with 86 rounds of ammunition, and two motorcycles, among other items. Mayirenso Saraso, General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Whirl Punch, praised the troops for their efforts, noting that they are “making life extremely difficult” for terrorists in the region.

This raid is part of the Nigerian Army’s ongoing mission to combat terrorism in the area.

• Nigeria’s GDP Sees 3.19% Growth in Q2 2024, Exceeding Previous Year’s Rate

Nigeria’s economy saw a strong performance in the second quarter of 2024, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing by 3.19 percent. This is a significant jump from the 2.51 percent growth recorded during the same period last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

In its Q2 2024 GDP Report, released on Monday, the NBS highlighted that this growth rate also surpassed the first quarter’s 2.98 percent growth.

The services sector was the main driver of this growth, expanding by 3.79 percent and contributing 58.76 percent to the overall GDP. The agriculture sector grew by 1.41 percent, while the industry sector saw a notable turnaround with a 3.53 percent growth rate, a significant improvement from the -1.94 percent seen in the same quarter last year.

The NBS also pointed out that both the industry and services sectors contributed more to the overall GDP in Q2 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

In nominal terms, the total GDP was N60,930,000.58 (U.S.$38,324.97), reflecting a 16.94 percent year-on-year increase from N52,103,927.13 (U.S.$32,773.37) in Q2 2023.

• Armed Men Kidnap Nigerian Government Official in Speedboat Raid

Gunmen kidnapped Aribibia Fubara, a director at the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue, in a daring speedboat raid on Saturday at the Okrika Waterfront near the Marine Base in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Eyewitnesses reported that the six kidnappers stormed the area, firing shots into the air to scatter the crowd before  seizing Fubara and speeding away with him.

As of now, there has been no word on whether the kidnappers have contacted Fubara’s family.

Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident, stating that the Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, has ordered tactical units to ensure Fubara’s safe release. “A manhunt has been launched to arrest the perpetrators and bring them to book,” she added.

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Ezinwanne Onwuka reports from Abuja.