Mistaken identity of brothers: Former Army Chief, Abdulrahman Dambazau, not arrested by DSS

Facts have emerged to prove that the viral story of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau’s reported arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) is untrue.

The social media has been awash with news and photos of the former Chief of Army Staff and immediate-past Interior Minister, claiming that he has been arrested in Kano by the secret police following media reports that one “General Dambazzau,” was in the custody of the DSS.

PRNigeria in its fact-check found that the story is not only false and misleading, but also a case of mistaken identity.

The person arrested is Brigadier-General Idris Bello Dambazau (rtd), Chairman, Kano State Consumer Protection Council.

Brig-General Dambazau was arrested over an alleged unilateral closure of seven petroleum filling stations without following due process.

PRNigeria gathered that the two retired generals bear the same surname and are brothers from the same family in Kano city. They have also made headway in politics after retirement from the Army.

Idris was Special Duties Commissioner during the tenure of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. After his recent appointment by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as the head of the Kano Consumer Protection Council, he vowed to protect consumers’ rights by curtailing the circulation of fake and expired products in the city.

Meanwhile, security sources told PRNigeria that since his recent appointment, Idris has been fingered in activities that are allegedly capable of creating scarcity of products in Kano State.

He has been accused of failing to comply with relevant sections of the regulations, guidelines, enforcement orders or directives for closures of business entities.

His brother, Abdulrahman, was Chief of Army Staff (COAS) between 2008 and 2010. He was the Director in charge of Intelligence and Security at the APC Presidential Campaign in 2015 and was subsequently appointed Minister of Interior during the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2019. (PRNigeria)