The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, has directed operatives of the agency not to arrest individuals over matters that are purely civil.
Ajayi disclosed this during a media interview on Thursday, September 3, 2026, saying the directive was part of reforms introduced under his leadership to strengthen adherence to the rule of law and improve the agency’s human rights record.
According to him, the reforms are focused on five key areas: law enforcement, inter-agency collaboration, accountability, respect for human rights, and infrastructural and administrative development.
The DSS boss said the agency had also drawn a clearer distinction between civil disputes and criminal matters, acknowledging that the two had sometimes been conflated in the past.
“You cannot apply the use of force in civil matters. Even some criminal matters don’t require force,” Ajayi said.
He explained that where the DSS has a dispute that requires legal interpretation, the agency would seek judicial intervention rather than resort to arrest.
Ajayi cited the case involving Professor Pat Utomi, saying the DSS chose to approach the court over an alleged attempt to establish a shadow government rather than arrest him.
He also referred to a case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), saying two DSS operatives were accused of invading the organisation’s premises.
According to him, the matter was taken to court with his approval, and no one was arrested throughout the proceedings. He added that the court eventually awarded more than ₦100 million in favour of SERAP.
Ajayi further cited the case involving Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore, saying the DSS did not oppose his bail because he had not been arrested in the first place.
Asked whether the agency would now rely on the courts when dealing with civil matters, the DSS Director-General responded in the affirmative.
“Yes. I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case,” he said.
Ajayi also said the directive extends to cases involving journalists, whom he described as the agency’s “professional colleagues.”
He said the DSS’s approach was intended to strengthen professionalism, accountability and respect for fundamental human rights while ensuring that its operations remain within the confines of the law.
