DSS Officer Testifies Against NSCDC Officials in Kidnapping, Banditry Case

A Department of State Services (DSS) official, Mr. Stephen Okolo, has testified in court that the use of technology played a crucial role in the arrest of three Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) officers and an arms dealer facing charges of kidnapping and banditry in Oyo State.

Okolo appeared before Justice N.E. Maha at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, serving as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the case. The accused individuals include NSCDC officers Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale, and Asmau Omar, alongside Emmanuel Olatunji, an alleged unlicensed arms dealer.

According to Okolo, the DSS intensified efforts to combat kidnapping and banditry in the Okeogun region of Oyo State and parts of Kwara by deploying advanced surveillance technology. He stated that the operation helped identify and track down key figures in the criminal network, including two notorious terrorists known as Baguda and Banshile.

He revealed that the crackdown began in January 2023, leading to the arrest of Lawan Buhari, a suspect accused of supplying ammunition to terrorists. This, in turn, led to the capture of the other three defendants—Okesola, Olatunji, and Adewale. Okolo presented a bag containing 1,000 rounds of live ammunition in court as evidence, claiming it was recovered from Buhari. He emphasized that disrupting the supply chain of weapons significantly reduced the rate of kidnappings and banditry in the region.

Lawan Buhari, testifying as the second prosecution witness (PW2), admitted to supplying AK-47 rifles and ammunition to the defendants, who allegedly funneled them to terrorist groups. He stated that before his arrest and detention at the 81 Battalion Barracks in Mokola, he worked with the Operation Burst security outfit, where he was approached by the NSCDC officers to provide arms.

The DSS prosecution counsel, Mr. T.A. Nurudeen, informed the court that the defendants were arraigned on a 15-count amended charge, including conspiracy, terrorism, illegal arms dealing, and aiding terrorism. All four pleaded not guilty.

Justice Maha adjourned the case until February 11 for the continuation of the trial.