Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Osifo, has thrown the weight of the country's foremost labour movement behind the Department of State Services, publicly commending the security agency for its sustained arrests and prosecutions of terrorists and bandits across Nigeria. Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Osifo declared that the ongoing crackdown was sending an unmistakable message to criminal elements who have turned communities into theatres of bloodshed and fear. His remarks, which came amid growing public anxiety over the escalating wave of insecurity across the North-West and other parts of the country, marked a rare moment of bipartisan praise for a security agency often subjected to intense public scrutiny.
The TUC chairman did not mince words about the stakes of the fight against terror. "When they are arrested and prosecuted, the bad guys get the clear message," Osifo stated, according to multiple news reports. His endorsement was unequivocal, signalling that organised labour, which has not shied away from criticising government failures, is prepared to commend progress where it is due. Osifo specifically backed the DSS leadership's position that terrorists and bandits whose activities result in the loss of human lives should face the death penalty, arguing that such a punishment would serve as a powerful deterrent to other criminal elements. "When that is done, the other bad guys will know it is no longer business as usual," he said.
The TUC chairman's commendation comes at a critical juncture in Nigeria's counter-terrorism efforts. The DSS, under the leadership of Director-General Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has intensified its operations against terrorist networks, leading to the arrest and prosecution of numerous suspects across the country. Osifo urged the service to sustain the tempo of arrests and prosecutions, noting that citizens have a duty to hold government accountable on all fronts. "When government does wrong things, we condemn them. When they do positive things, we are also duty bound to commend," he said, striking a balance between criticism and recognition.
Osifo also lauded the DSS Director-General for what he described as ongoing reforms in the service, urging him to do more in tackling insecurity across the country. His comments come amid growing concerns over the activities of bandits and terrorists in the North-West and other parts of the country, where communities have been subjected to relentless attacks, abductions and killings. The TUC chairman's endorsement of the DSS's efforts is likely to boost morale within the security agency and reinforce its resolve to continue its operations against criminal elements.
In a related development, the DSS recently arraigned two additional suspected members of a syndicate specialising in crude oil theft in Akwa Ibom State, bringing to 19 the number of suspects being prosecuted for crude oil theft in the state. The suspects, Arepade Dominic Ekprese and Benson Ekiokekeme Innocent, were docked at the Magistrate Court in Uyo, where the court declined jurisdiction and remanded them at the Uyo Medium Correctional Facility for an initial period of 21 days. The suspects were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation led by the Joint Task Force South South, Operation Delta Safe, which busted a syndicate siphoning crude oil from a platform operated by a major oil company on the shores of the state.
Osifo's commendation of the DSS's efforts underscores the growing recognition of the importance of intelligence-led security operations in tackling the country's multifaceted security challenges. His call for sustained prosecutions and the death penalty for terrorists and bandits reflects a hardening of public sentiment towards criminal elements who have wreaked havoc on communities across Nigeria. As the DSS continues its operations, the TUC chairman's endorsement serves as a powerful validation of the agency's efforts, while also reminding Nigerians of their collective responsibility to support security agencies in their fight against terrorism and banditry.
The TUC chairman's remarks also highlight the delicate balance between holding the government accountable and acknowledging its successes. In a country where criticism of security agencies has often been the norm, Osifo's commendation of the DSS is a significant departure, suggesting a growing recognition that progress, however incremental, deserves acknowledgment. For the families of victims of terrorism and banditry, the TUC chairman's words offer a glimmer of hope that the tide may finally be turning against the criminal elements that have held the nation hostage for far too long.
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