Jaafar Jaafar, publisher and social commentator criticized the former Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, accusing him of turning the agency into a center of nepotism and inefficiency.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Jaafar described a decline in the SSS under Bichi’s leadership.
Jaafar stated that Bichi “has turned an otherwise elite, professionally-run service into a graveyard of career aspirations, an orchard of nepotism and an armed corps of 40 Blantyre Crescent,” referring to the agency’s headquarters.
He further accused Bichi of lowering the recruitment standards within the service, allowing unqualified individuals to join without the rigorous screening process previously in place.
“Bichi arguably recruited the highest number of Cotonou ‘graduates’ into the service,” Jaafar claimed, suggesting that the former DG prioritized favoritism over merit.
Jaafar also mentioned that Bichi extended the tenure of certain directors beyond retirement, hindering the career progression of other qualified officers.
He extended criticism to Bichi’s wife, describing her as exerting undue influence over the agency’s operations.
According to Jaafar, she was involved in recruitment, promotion, and disciplinary matters within the SSS, with frequent displays of wealth and authority funded by public money.
Jaafar also criticized Bichi’s son, labeling him as a “spoiled brat” who flaunted his wealth on social media while being protected by SSS operatives funded by public money, including escorts to nightclubs, football arenas, and political rallies.
Jaafar called on the new Director-General to review the agency’s practices and detainee cases. “The service does not only need a factory reset but flushing!” Jaafar concluded, urging a return to professionalism and the removal of familial influence from the SSS.
