Suspect allegedly operated under the identity of a DSS officer before his arrest around Wuse II
The Department of State Services has arrested a man identified as Moferewa Maiye for allegedly impersonating a personnel of the Service in Abuja.
Maiye was reportedly arrested late on Wednesday after officers of the DSS traced him to his hideout around NITEL Junction, along Adetokunbo Ademola Way in Wuse II, Abuja.
According to information surrounding the arrest, the suspect allegedly presented himself as a personnel of the secret police, despite not being an authorised officer of the Service.
The development came after DSS personnel reportedly commenced tracking his movements before eventually locating and apprehending him in the Wuse II area.
The suspect is said to have identified himself as Moferewa Maiye and claimed to be from Agbajojun Village in Mopamuro Local Government Area of Kogi State.
His arrest has again drawn attention to the activities of individuals who allegedly impersonate security and intelligence personnel, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory where such claims can create serious security concerns.
Impersonation of security personnel can also raise concerns because members of the public may be deceived into believing that an individual has official authority when he does not.
In this case, DSS officers reportedly kept the suspect under surveillance before moving in to arrest him at his alleged hideout around NITEL Junction.
The circumstances surrounding how long Maiye had allegedly been presenting himself as a DSS personnel, what activities he may have carried out while allegedly using the identity, and whether anyone was affected by the alleged impersonation were not immediately disclosed.
The DSS is expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case as investigations continue.
The arrest also highlights the importance of members of the public being careful when dealing with individuals who claim to be security or intelligence officers, especially where such claims are used to demand access, information, money or other forms of compliance.
Further details on the investigation, including the specific circumstances that led DSS operatives to trail the suspect and the possible charges that may follow, are expected as authorities continue their investigation.
For now, Maiye remains a suspect, and the allegations against him will have to be established through the appropriate investigative and legal process.
