By Yakubu Salisu, Kano
Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the Directo- General, Department of State Services (DSS) otherwise known as the State Security Service (SSS) is a spy master equipped in intelligence gathering skills, conflict management, counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism/insurgency and deep investigations to mention a few.
Having served in different capacities in the Service, he rose to become the Director General of the Secret Service in 2018, a prestige organization saddled with the responsibility of intelligence gathering within the country, to protect and defend the Federal Republic of Nigeria Against domestic threats and provide security for senior government officials among many other statutory functions.
His wealth of expertise and experiences culminating from years of active service to the country no doubt has led to tremendous achievements under his noble leadership and a driving force in repositioning the Department of State Services and consolidating the records of past Director Generals of the Service notably those of Ita Ekpeyong.
The Name; Yususf Bichi is a terrible nightmare to terrorists, bandits, boko haram and kidnappers, sending shivers down their spines crushing them in never expected ways which has disorganized their formations across the country, setting them on the run.
Bichi, a silent achiever is able to quell the activities of kidnappers particularly on Kaduna-Abuja Road and working hard to replicate same in other troubled region of the country. Though his modus operandi remains secretly secret to the public to ensure great success, his achievements speak for themselves.
Yusuf Bichi has emboldened the Owl
It is worthy of note his adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) approaches to tackling security challenges bedeviling Nigeria just like most advanced countries such as Israel, Jordan, UAE and others. This method reduces risk of having to send his operatives into needless ambushes resulting to avoidable causalities. Little wonder, the DSS rarely records casualties during operations.
Not to forget his passion for training and retraining of officers, that not only benefits the Service but other security agencies which by extension reduces over dependence on the DSS beyond intelligence gathering. This is in addition to running s dependable, reliable, transparent and fraudulent-free administration which is also reflective in Pension administration. He chairs one of the best pensions in the country which is receiving laudable commendations particularly from retirees of other agencies.
Under his watch, intelligence gathering and timely sharing with other relevant security agencies, witnessed unprecedented turns with the service providing credible intel to relevant agencies for necessary actions which has helped greatly in the ongoing war against insecurity in the country not only this, but even providing the public with necessary information on possible threats at particular time, places of event and what to do, a development not known before now.
His outstanding performance and dedication to service has earned him awards; he was awarded by International human rights Commission, Geneva, Switzerland an election monitoring group shortly after the 2019 presidential elections in recognition of the exemplary performance by the Service and its personnel during the elections.
In 2022, he was also conferred with the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the then President, Muhammadu Buhari in recognition of his leadership qualities and especially, his tremendous contributions to the national security management of the country.
Under him, the Service has witnessed expansions through meticulous recruitments to carter for almost every operational and administrative needs. Expanded office complexes, accommodation, training institutions and formations within the Service as well as improved welfare for both active and retired personnel.
His contemporaries describe him, a gentle man, a fine officer with a loving heart and always giving fatherly love and treatment to those he comes across needing his help. His score card remains a lengthy one with some left untold due to security reasons. He is a man for the job, no wonder President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deemed it necessary to renew his tenure.