Stephen Okolo, a Department of State Services (DSS) official, testified on Monday before Justice N.E. Maha at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, revealing that advanced technology played a key role in the arrest of three Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) officers charged with kidnapping and banditry in Oyo State.
Okolo, serving as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, explained that the DSS used technical surveillance tools to track and apprehend the suspects. The officers Olamide Okesola, Adedeji Adewale, and Asmau Omar are accused, along with arms dealer Emmanuel Olatunji, of being involved in criminal activities.
In his testimony, Okolo described how the DSS deployed advanced technology to combat rising incidents of kidnapping and banditry in the Okeogun area of Oyo State and parts of Kwara. The operation, which started in January 2023, led to the arrest of key figures, including NSCDC official Lawan Buhari, who was accused of supplying ammunition to terrorists. Further investigation resulted in the arrest of Okesola, Olatunji, and Adewale.
In court, evidence was presented, including a bag containing 1,000 rounds of live ammunition seized from Buhari. Okolo stated that the arrests had disrupted the arms supply chain to terrorists, significantly decreasing criminal activities in the region.
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Buhari, one of the arrested suspects, admitted to supplying AK-47 rifles and ammunition to the defendants in exchange for money. He claimed he was approached by the trio while serving with Operation Burst, a security group, before his arrest at the 81 Battalion Barracks in Mokola.
The defendants face a 15-count amended charge, including conspiracy, terrorism, and illegal arms dealing, but they all pleaded not guilty.
