The Department of State Services, DSS, has rejected claims by African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar that it is recruiting protesters to destabilise Sokoto State and create a pretext for a curfew that would halt the party’s campaign rally.
In a statement posted on its official X handle, the Service said the allegation was particularly surprising because two of its operatives were injured and hospitalised only days earlier while protecting the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto, Mannir Daniya, from a mob.
According to the Service, Daniya was evacuated unhurt when he was attacked in Sokoto on 31 October 2026, and the two operatives assaulted during the incident are still receiving treatment in hospital.
The DSS said the governorship candidate subsequently called the State Director of the Sokoto Command personally to express appreciation and to request reinforcement from the Service.
“Though these operations to protect all Political Parties is at variance with the elder statesman’s allegation and tend to demoralize our gallant operatives who are risking their lives in the line of duty, the DGDSS has still ordered an investigation into the allegation in deference to the elder statesman,” the statement said.
Threat against Obi
The Service also recalled that on 2 March 2026 it arrested one Monday Udeme Steven in Rivers State for threatening to attack the National Democratic Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
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It said Udeme was successfully prosecuted before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and is currently serving a two-year sentence.
Sowore’s Ekiti claim
The DSS further referenced what it described as a similar allegation by AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who accused the Service of involvement in an attack on him in Ekiti State.
It said it welcomed the police’s swift investigation and preliminary report on the cause of the incident, which it said was an “altercation,” and the arrest of 11 suspects.
“We await the outcome of Police investigation and will not dissipate energy on the matter,” the Service said, adding: “The Service will continue to remain accountable under the present DG.”
The full statement, titled “Re: Allegation Against DSS By Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,” reads:
“The attention of the DG Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to allegation by elder statesman and ADC presidential candidate, Alhaji ATIKU ABUBAKAR that, DSS is organizing protests in Sokoto State.
“For the Records, DSS Operatives deployed to Sokoto ADC Governorship Candidate; Mannir Daniya, evacuated him to safety unhurt on 31st October 2026 when attacked in Sokoto. Two (2) DSS operatives were assaulted during the incident and are still being treated in the hospital. The governorship candidate called personally to appreciate the State Director of Sokoto Command and even requested for reinforcement from the DSS.
“Though these operations to protect all Political Parties is at variance with the elder statesman’s allegation and tend to demoralize our gallant operatives who are risking their lives in the line of duty, the DGDSS has still ordered an investigation into the allegation in deference to the elder statesman.
“The Service also use this medium to reference a similar allegation by AAC Presidential Candidate Omoyele SOWORE that, the Service was involved in an attack on him in Ekiti State. In this regard, we thank the Police for swift investigation and a preliminary Report on the cause of the incident; ‘altercation’, coupled with the arrest of eleven (11) suspects. We await the outcome of Police investigation and will not dissipate energy on the matter.
“The Service will continue to remain accountable under the present DG.”
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