Tinubu's DSS Appointment: The Strategic Move That Ended Southeast Sit-At-Home
The Igbo proverb "Nwoke nusia ogu, nwanyi enwelu akuko" speaks to how men often claim credit for struggles others endured. Translated, it means when a man finishes a war, the woman tells the story. This dynamic is unfolding in Southeast Nigeria, particularly Anambra State, where Governor Chukwuma Soludo has recently taken center stage in ending the Monday sit-at-home protests.
The Political Timing of Security Success
Governor Soludo, sworn into office on March 17, 2022, spent nearly four years in power before aggressively addressing the sit-at-home order that the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) declared on August 9, 2021. For three years and ten months, this weekly disruption didn't appear to be his priority. However, in late January 2026, Soludo began touring markets and schools, vowing to end the practice and even shutting down Onitsha Main Market and New Auto Spare Parts Market in Nnewi to demonstrate his commitment.
This sudden activism coincided with significant developments in Nigeria's security landscape. On November 20, 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment. Contrary to predictions of regional chaos, the Southeast remained calm as DSS operatives transferred Kanu to Sokoto prison. The subsequent weeks saw unprecedented peace, with many describing the 2025 Yuletide as the most peaceful in over a decade for the region.
The DSS Strategy Behind the Scenes
While Soludo received public applause for his market closures, the real catalyst for change emerged from strategic security operations. The Department of State Services, under new leadership appointed by President Bola Tinubu, executed a comprehensive approach that combined intelligence gathering, targeted arrests, and accelerated prosecutions.
In early February 2026, IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful announced that Kanu had "officially and permanently cancelled" the sit-at-home directive from his Sokoto prison cell. This decision reportedly came as part of Kanu's efforts to seek a political solution to his situation, demonstrating the effectiveness of the DSS's pressure tactics.
The DSS intensified operations in the Southeast, targeting IPOB commanders, seizing arms caches, and disrupting supply chains. Simultaneously, the agency pursued high-profile terrorism cases nationwide, including:
- The accelerated prosecution of Khalid Al-Barnawi for the 2011 UN building attack in Abuja
- The trial of suspects in the 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church attack in Owo
- Justice efforts for victims of the 2012 Deeper Life Bible Church attack in Kogi State
- The capture of Abubakar Abba, leader of the Mahmuda terrorist group, without firing a single shot
Expanding Counter-Terrorism Operations
The DSS's holistic approach extended beyond IPOB to address broader security threats. In August 2025, the agency filed terrorism charges against nine suspects linked to the Yelwata massacre in Benue State, where dozens were killed and 107 injured. The ongoing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite represents the DSS's commitment to holding perpetrators accountable through legal channels.
DSS Director General Oluwatosin Ajayi emphasized this commitment, stating: "The various arrests and trials of terrorism suspects showed that Nigeria's security agencies have been diligent in dealing with the perpetrators of terror in the country. We shall continue to make the suspects accountable for disrupting the peace of our country, in consonance with the rule of law."
The agency's success has forced criminal elements to adapt their tactics. Security sources reveal that terrorists now use unsuspecting women and young girls as arms couriers, offering payments between N20,000 and N50,000 to transport weapons concealed in grain sacks. In response, the DSS has ordered prosecutions for any arms courier posing as grain merchants, recognizing that ignorance cannot excuse lawbreaking.
The Broader Impact on National Security
The DSS's renewed vigor under Tinubu's administration has produced measurable results. By July 2025, 125 terrorists had been convicted, with hundreds more cases handled by the Attorney General's office. The agency's intelligence-led operations have decimated terrorists' ability to transport arms and ammunition, while increased collaboration with sister agencies has enhanced overall security effectiveness.
Recent developments include the reported arrest of a key ISIS commander, though the DSS maintains operational silence to maximize strategic advantage. This approach reflects the agency's evolving methodology: using precision intelligence, legal prosecution, and inter-agency cooperation to dismantle security threats systematically.
The end of sit-at-home in Southeast Nigeria demonstrates that well-coordinated security strategies can overcome even deeply entrenched challenges. As citizens witness increased safety and normalcy, the DSS's work continues to reinforce the state's capacity to protect life and property while maintaining peace, law, and order across the nation.
