The reasons behind the sudden resignation of the former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, have been revealed, shedding light on the dissatisfaction within the highest levels of Nigeria’s government regarding their agencies’ performance.
Sources within the Presidency disclosed to Saturday Punch that President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, raised concerns about the intelligence gathering capabilities of both agencies following two major incidents: the violent nature of the #EndBadGovernance protests in several northern states and the unexpected seizure of three Nigerian presidential aircraft in France by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited.
Bichi was reportedly held accountable for the DSS’s failure to provide actionable intelligence that could have prevented or mitigated the violence that erupted during the #EndBadGovernance protests, which began on August 1.
The protests, sparked by widespread hardship due to the removal of fuel subsidies, electricity tariff hikes, and the escalating cost of living, turned violent in states like Kano, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, and Bauchi.
Public and private properties were destroyed, leading to curfews being imposed in Kano, Bauchi, and Plateau states.
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Meanwhile, Abubakar faced scrutiny over the NIA’s inability to preempt the legal actions taken by the Chinese company that resulted in the seizure of Nigerian presidential jets in France.
The aircraft, including a newly acquired Airbus, were seized following a French court ruling related to a longstanding legal dispute between Zhongshan and the Ogun State Government.
The twin incidents reportedly embarrassed both President Tinubu and NSA Ribadu, prompting the leadership changes.
Bichi, a Kano native, was appointed as DSS Director-General on September 14, 2018, by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Abubakar, from Katsina State, also came into office under Buhari on January 10, 2018.
One of the sources said, “The seizure of the presidential jets and violent nature of the #EndBadGovernance protest embarrassed the President nationally and internationally.
“The President was displeased with the NIA and DSS bosses. This was why he requested the resignation of the two security chiefs.”
Another source revealed that Bichi and Ribadu had been having a running battle before the protest, with the fallout from the northern demonstrations serving as the final straw.
He stated, “The former DSS DG and the NSA boss had been on bad terms for some time. Their issues escalated to the point that Bichi was unable to meet the President for a while. The Presidency finally had a valid reason to dismiss him due to the #EndBadGovernance protest.”
Abubakar announced his resignation on Saturday, August 24, after meeting with President Tinubu.
In contrast, Bichi’s resignation was announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Monday, August 26.
