Former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has attributed the worsening insecurity during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to what he described as the government’s inadequate response to rising security threats.
According to a Vanguard report published on July 27, 2026, Amachree made the remarks in his book, DSS@40: My Journey Behind the Shield. He said the administration failed to effectively address the growing threats of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping, allowing criminal groups to expand their operations.
Amachree also alleged that widespread corruption among senior government officials weakened institutions responsible for tackling insecurity. He further claimed that some high-ranking officials paid ransom to kidnappers to secure the release of victims, arguing that such payments indirectly financed criminal activities.
Beyond security concerns, Amachree said some public remarks by Buhari fueled public dissatisfaction. He cited the former president’s description of Nigerian youths as “lazy” during an international trip, saying the comment was widely viewed as “adding insult to the injury” of widespread unemployment.
According to Amachree, the remarks damaged Nigeria’s image and alienated many young people who felt neglected by the government.
