History of State Security Service (Nigeria)

TheState Security Service(SSS), also known as theDepartment of State Services(DSS), is the primary domestic intelligence agency of Nigeria. It is primarily responsible for intelligence gathering within the country and for the protection of senior government officials, particularly the Presidentand state governors.

It is one of three successor organisations to the National Security Organization(NSO), dissolved in 1986. The SSS operates as a department within the presidency and is under the control of the National Security Adviser.

Directors General of the SSS

1. Colonel Abdullahi Mohammed(DG NSO)1976–1979 (October)

2. Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi(DG NSO)1979 (October) – 1983 (November)

3. Ambassador Mohammed Lawal Rafindadi(DG NSO)1984 (January) – 1985 (August)

4. Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo1986 (June) – 1990 (September)

5. Chief Albert Horsfall1990 (September) – 1992 (October)

6. Chief Peter Nwaoduah1992 (October) – 1998

7. Colonel Kayode Are(Rtd)1999 – 2007 (August)

8. Afakriya Gadzama2007 (August) – 2010 (September)

9. Ita Ekpeyong2010 (September) - present

Origins
Nigerian SSS operative with IMI Tavor TAR-21
Fulfilling one of the promises made in his first national address as president, Ibrahim Babangidain June 1986 issued Decree Number 19, dissolving the National Security Organization(NSO) and restructuring Nigeria's security services into three separate entities under the Office of the Co-ordinator of National Security.

1. The State Security Service (SSS) was made responsible for domestic intelligence, with Director General Ismaila Gwarzoand Deputy Director Lt. Col. A.K. Togun.

2. The National Intelligence Agency(NIA) handled external intelligence and counterintelligence.

3. The Defence Intelligence Agency(DIA) was responsible for military-related intelligence outside and inside Nigeria.

The first headquarters of the agency was located at 15, Awolowo road, Ikoyi in Lagos

Reference: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Security_Service_(Nigeria)

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