DSS Director General Detains 16 Officers Over Exam Scandal

The Department of State Services has been thrown into crisis after its Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, detained 16 officers and placed a ₦20million bounty in connection with a promotion exam scandal.

The case centers on widespread malpractice and irregularities that have unsettled the agency.

The scandal began when reports surfaced that senior officers manipulated results of the promotion exam to favor certain candidates. Allegations pointed to inflated scores and irregular marking processes that undermined fairness. The revelations quickly spread within the service and beyond, drawing public attention to how the internal exercise was conducted.

The action taken by the DSS leadership came after SaharaReporters exposed details of the controversial exam. The publication reported that officers at various levels faced unfair treatment, sparking resentment across the ranks. The service responded by clamping down on suspected whistleblowers, determined to trace those responsible for leaking the information.

The controversy deepened when officers revealed that poor conditions during the exams had led to the death of eight personnel. Many had been forced to fund their travel and accommodation without official allowances. The strain of meeting these costs reportedly caused extreme anxiety and exhaustion, leading to tragic outcomes.

Figures released later showed alarmingly low pass rates across most cadres. For example, less than one in three Assistant Security Officers advanced, and only about a quarter of Cadet Officers succeeded. Other categories, including Senior Intelligence Officers and Deputy Inspectors, also recorded poor results. The numbers reinforced concerns that the process was deeply flawed and unfair.

The agency now faces growing unrest within its ranks. Many officers believe the entire promotion exercise was compromised, alleging that unqualified individuals were allowed to set and grade the tests. The low success rate has fueled anger, with calls for a review of the process gaining momentum among staff.

The leadership’s current focus appears to be on preventing further leaks and containing the fallout. Insiders say the atmosphere in the service has become tense, with secrecy surrounding the deaths of officers and the poor exam results. The situation has cast a shadow over the agency, raising questions about transparency and fairness within one of Nigeria’s most powerful security institutions.