Di Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, don order di immediate release of one man wey dem wrongfully link to Boko Haram terrorists, after dem review im case.
According to findings of DSS investigation review panel, di man, Nura Idris, na farmer and livestock rearer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Dem arrest am by a sister security agency for Suleja, Niger State, for June 2024, over alleged links to terrorists before dem transfer am to DSS custody.
After di review, di panel no find any evidence to support di allegations against am, so di Director-General order im release and approve compensation of N3 million to help am meet im immediate needs. DSS also pledge to support am to rebuild im business.
Receiving di compensation, Idris express gratitude to di DSS leadership. “I thank di DGSS for im kindness. I was well treated in DSS custody and I pray that Allah rewards di DGSS immensely,” di source quote Idris as saying.
Im father, Yusuf Idris, who receive am upon im release, also thank di DSS Director-General for im compassion and generosity, assuring say di compensation go dey put to good use.
Another security source disclose say for similar cases, DSS dey usually follow up with released detainees by providing psychological and medical support before helping dem establish businesses of dia choice to facilitate reintegration into society.
Di release na part of internal review exercise wey di Service start last year to reassess inherited and prolonged detention cases, with di aim of ensuring say individuals wey dem wrongfully detain no go remain for custody.
According to di source, di release and compensation of affected detainees show DSS commitment to institutional accountability and respect for citizens’ rights. “Di Service under di current DG don continue to show say safeguarding national security must go hand in hand with upholding di rights and dignity of citizens,” di source tok.
Di source also recall di case of Sunday Ifedi and im wife, Calista, wey dem arrest on November 8, 2021, and detain for di Wawa facility several years before di appointment of di current Director-General for August 2024. Sunday Ifedi dem release am on December 16, 2025, after a review ordered by di DSS Director-General clear am of alleged ties to di outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Dem subsequently award am N10 million compensation.
According to di source, DSS dey also plan to rebuild a restaurant for memory of Calista Ifedi, who die while for custody, as part of efforts to compensate her husband over allegations say di restaurant don dey patronised by IPOB members, leading to dia arrest.
Di source add say more dan 30 cases don so far dey reviewed under di exercise, with over N300 million paid as compensation.
Di source further recall say for October 2025, DSS order di release of Abuja-based businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe and approve N10 million compensation for her. Similarly, Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, wey dem arrest for July 2022 over alleged involvement with di proscribed IPOB, later dem release am after a review of im case. Five other detainees wey dem also clear of alleged IPOB links dem release and each receive initial compensation of N2 million.
Last month, DSS also release Ya’u Mohammed, a resident of Yobe State, after investigations confirm say im no get any connection with terrorism. After im release, di Service provide am with N2 million to support im reintegration and help restore im livelihood.
“Dere be many more instances where DSS investigations don establish innocence and don dey followed by efforts to facilitate reintegration,” di source tok, adding say such measures dey intended to strengthen public trust for di Service.
