The Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi has ordered the immediate release of a man who was wrongly accused of having links to Boko Haram terrorists.
The man, Nura Idris, was cleared by a DSS investigation review panel, which found no evidence to support allegations that he collaborated with the terrorist group.
In addition to ordering his release, the DSS approved N3 million in financial compensation to help Idris meet his immediate needs. The DSS boss also pledged to support him in rebuilding his business, in line with a rehabilitation approach said to have become common under the current leadership.
According to a security source, Idris, a farmer and herder from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was initially arrested by another security agency in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024 over suspected terrorist links before he was later transferred to DSS custody.
However, after a thorough review of his case, the DSS panel reportedly found no basis for the allegations against him, prompting the Director-General to approve his release and compensation.
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Speaking after receiving the money, Idris expressed gratitude to the DSS leadership, saying the support would help him restart his life.
“I thank the DGSS for his kindness. I was well treated in DSS custody and I pray that Allah rewards the DGSS immensely,” a source quoted him as saying.
Idris’ father, Yusuf Idris, who received him upon his release, also thanked the DSS Director-General for what he described as compassion and generosity, assuring that the money would be used wisely.
Another source disclosed that in cases of wrongful detention, the DSS usually follows up with affected persons by offering psychological and medical support, while also helping them establish a business of their choice as part of reintegration efforts.
The release of Idris is said to be part of an internal review process launched by the DSS last year to reassess prolonged inherited cases and ensure that persons wrongly detained are not left in custody unjustly.
According to the source, the release and compensation of detainees across several cases reflect what he described as the DSS’s growing commitment to institutional integrity and humane conduct.
“The Service under the current DG has continued to show that safeguarding national security and protecting citizens must go hand in hand with upholding the rights and dignity of the people,” the source said.
The source also recalled the case of Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista, who were arrested on November 8, 2021, and detained at the Wawa facility three years before the appointment of the current DSS Director-General in August 2024.
Sunday Ifedi was eventually released on December 16, 2025, after a detainee review ordered by the DSS leadership cleared him of any links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. He was subsequently awarded N10 million in compensation.
The DSS is also said to be planning to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Ifedi’s late wife, Calista, who died in custody at the Wawa detention facility. The move is intended as part of efforts to compensate the family over allegations that her restaurant had been patronised by IPOB members, which led to their arrest.
The source further recalled that in October 2025, the DSS ordered the release of Abuja-based businesswoman Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe and approved N10 million compensation for her.
In another case, Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who had been arrested in July 2022 over alleged involvement in IPOB activities, was also released. Five other detainees similarly linked to IPOB were freed and each received an initial N2 million compensation package.
Last month, the DSS also released a Yobe State resident, Ya’u Mohammed, after investigations reportedly confirmed he had no ties to terrorism. He was given N2 million in financial support to aid his reintegration and restore his livelihood.
“There are many more instances where DSS investigations have established innocence and have been followed by efforts to facilitate reintegration,” the source added, noting that such measures are part of the agency’s broader effort to build public trust.
According to the source, more than 30 cases have so far been reviewed, with over N300 million reportedly paid out in compensation.
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