Former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has blamed the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari for the worsening insecurity witnessed during its tenure, arguing that the government failed to respond effectively to growing threats from insurgency, banditry and kidnapping. Amachree made the remarks in his newly released book, DSS@40: My Journey Behind the Shield, where he reflects on Nigeria’s security challenges and the country’s intelligence operations.
According to Amachree, the Buhari administration paid insufficient attention to the rapid expansion of violent crimes across the country despite repeated warning signs. He wrote that the government’s perceived slow response to insurgency, bandit attacks and kidnappings created a public impression that the leadership lacked an effective strategy for addressing the nation’s security crisis. He argued that the situation worsened as criminal groups expanded their operations in several parts of Nigeria.
The former intelligence chief also linked the worsening security situation to corruption among senior government officials, alleging that ransom payments made by some public office holders to kidnappers indirectly encouraged criminal activities. He said such payments effectively subsidized terrorism and kidnapping by providing armed groups with financial resources to sustain their operations. Security experts have long cautioned that ransom payments can incentivize further abductions, although governments often face difficult choices when lives are at risk.
Amachree further criticized remarks made by Buhari during his presidency, including comments describing many Nigerian youths as “lazy,” saying they deepened public frustration at a time of rising unemployment and economic hardship. According to the book, such statements damaged the government’s relationship with young people and contributed to a perception that their concerns were not being adequately addressed.
The publication has added to ongoing debate over Nigeria’s security record under previous administrations. Buhari’s supporters have argued that his government inherited complex security challenges and made significant investments in military operations and security agencies, while critics contend that violence continued to spread despite those efforts. Analysts say insecurity remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing policy challenges, requiring sustained reforms, improved intelligence gathering and stronger coordination among security agencies.
