DSS Bars Operatives From Arrests Over Civil Disputes

The Department of State Services has instructed its operatives not to make arrests in civil disputes, directing personnel to leave such matters to the judicial system instead. Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi issued the order during a media engagement on Thursday, September 3, stating that force has no role in civil disagreements between parties.

Ajayi framed the directive as one component of a larger overhaul within the agency. Since taking the helm, he has implemented changes across five areas: law enforcement procedures, collaboration between security agencies, mechanisms for accountability, respect for human rights, and administrative and infrastructure improvements.

The DSS chief emphasized that these reforms aim to strengthen the institution's commitment to the rule of law and bolster its human rights standing. The instruction reflects an effort to establish clearer boundaries between the roles of security agencies and the courts.

Civil matters—including property disputes, contract disagreements, and personal conflicts—should be adjudicated through established legal channels rather than through law enforcement detention. By restricting arrests to criminal matters, the DSS is repositioning itself within Nigeria's security architecture.

The directive carries practical implications for Nigerians who may have previously encountered DSS involvement in non-criminal disputes. Court systems remain the appropriate avenue for resolving such conflicts, and the agency's new stance is intended to redirect such cases toward judicial processes.

The extent to which the directive will be implemented across all field offices and the enforcement mechanisms supporting it remain part of the broader reform agenda under Ajayi's leadership.