Buhari fires Seiyefa as DSS boss, appoints Bichi as new helmsman

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday removed Matthew Seiyefa as Director General (DG)of the Department of State Services(DSS).

Seiyefa was appointed head of the agency in August in acting capacity by Vice President Yomi Osinbajo after firing then DG Lawal Daura for authorizing the invasion of the National Assembly by DSS operatives. President Buhari was in London at the time on medical vacation.

A statement on Friday signed by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said Seiyefa had been replaced with Yusuf Magaji Bichi whose appointment takes immediate effect.

Bichi, a core Secret Service operative, who attended Danbatta Secondary School, the Kano State College of Advanced Studies and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he graduated with a degree in Political Science, began his career in the security division of the Cabinet Office in Kano, from where he joined the defunct Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), the precursor of the present DSS. He retired from service in 2017.

The new DSS boss underwent training in intelligence processing analysis, agent handling recruitment and intelligence processing in the UK, as well as strategic training at the National Defence College.

He is said to be adept at intelligence gathering, research analysis, conflict management, general investigation, risk and vulnerability operations, counter intelligence and protective operation and human resources management.

In the course of his career, Mr. Bichi worked as the State Director of Security in Jigawa, Niger, Sokoto and Abia States.

He was at various times the Director, National Assembly Liaison, (National War College), Director at National Headquarters in the Directorate of Security Enforcement, Directorate of Operations, Directorate of Intelligence, Directorate of Inspection and Directorate of Administration and Finance.

He also served as Director at State Service Academy. He is married and with children.