A Department of State Services (DSS) official, Mr. Stephen Okolo, has disclosed that advanced technology facilitated the arrest of three Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) officers charged with kidnapping and banditry in Oyo State.
Okolo made the revelation on Monday while testifying before Justice N.E. Maha of the Federal High Court in Ibadan.
He appeared as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the ongoing trial of the accused officers and an alleged arms dealer.
The NSCDC officials—Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale, and Asmau Omar—stand accused alongside Emmanuel Olatunji, an unlicensed arms dealer, of involvement in criminal activities.
In his testimony, Okolo detailed how technological surveillance tools were instrumental in tracking and apprehending the suspects.
“My lord, following the increase in the cases of kidnapping and banditry in Okeogun area of Oyo State and parts of Kwara, the DSS fashioned out how to address the issue by deploying our technical expertise, that is equipment,” he said.
He explained that the DSS deployed technical expertise and surveillance equipment to address the rising insecurity.
Through sustained efforts, the DSS identified and arrested key figures involved in these criminal activities.
“We identified two kingpins, Baguda and Banshile, who were among the most dangerous terrorists operating in the area,” the operative said.
The operation, which began in January 2023, led to the arrest of Lawan Buhari, an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), alleged to have been supplying ammunition to terrorists.
Further investigations resulted in the arrest of three additional suspects: Okesola, Olatunji, and Adewale.
In court, a bag containing 1,000 rounds of live ammunition, recovered from Buhari, was tendered as evidence.
The DSS operative stated that the arrests disrupted the supply chain of arms to terrorists, significantly reducing kidnapping and banditry in the region.
Lawan Buhari, one of the suspects, admitted during his testimony that he supplied AK-47 rifles and ammunition to the defendants in exchange for cash.
He claimed he was approached by the trio while serving with Operation Burst, a security outfit, before his arrest and detention at the 81 Battalion Barracks in Mokola.
DSS prosecution counsel, Mr. T.A. Nurudeen, informed the court that the defendants faced a 15-count amended charge, including conspiracy, terrorism, unlawful arms dealing, and aiding and abetting terrorism.
However, the defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
