New details have emerged regarding the dismissal of 115 officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) following internal investigations that uncovered serious misconduct capable of undermining the integrity of the agency.

Sources within the DSS told Sunday Punch that the affected officers were implicated in a range of offences, including fraudulent practices, indiscipline, certificate forgery, and leaking sensitive official information. A senior insider disclosed that several officers engaged in behaviour considered unacceptable for members of an intelligence agency.

“Some of them even leaked official information, which is a serious offence,” one source said. Others were found to have submitted forged academic credentials, including fake degrees from foreign institutions, birth certificates, and certificates from religious institutions, as part of their employment documentation.

A senior official elaborated, “These are bad eggs. Some used forged birth certificates for employment, others attended schools in Benin Republic for only four months and presented the certificates as degrees, while a few even used mosque certificates as degree equivalents.”

The DSS officially announced the dismissals on its 𝕏 account on Tuesday, publishing the photos and dismissal dates of the affected personnel while warning the public against any official dealings with them. This level of transparency is unprecedented for the agency, as disciplinary actions are rarely made public.

The purge follows the recent arrest of two former officers, Barry Donald and Victor Godwin, who were accused of impersonating DSS personnel to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. Sunday Punch gathered that the dismissals form part of Director-General Adeola Ajayi’s broader effort to restore discipline and integrity within the service.

A top intelligence officer said, “Some of the dismissed officers were becoming rogues and threatening the service’s credibility. The DSS doesn’t compromise on integrity. The current DG is reforming the agency and cleansing the system of indiscipline.”

Sources added that several of the dismissed officers already had pending disciplinary issues before Ajayi assumed office. “Some were queried under the previous DG without punishment, while others received minor sanctions. When they repeated their offences, the current DG had no choice but to dismiss them,” a DSS member explained.

About 15 to 20 per cent of the dismissed personnel were reported to have traveled abroad without formally resigning. “They were dismissed for improper resignation. The DG wants to instill stronger discipline and correct attitudes that were previously overlooked,” another insider said.

Security officials emphasized that publishing the identities and photos of the dismissed officers is necessary to protect the public and prevent misuse of the DSS name. A senior officer explained, “It is impossible for individuals who are not truthful about themselves to operate in this service. They are trained personnel, and the government ensures they do not use the agency’s name for illicit activities. That is why their photos were released—so the public will not engage with them.”