The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate release of a man who was wrongfully linked to Boko Haram terrorists.
The release followed the findings of a DSS investigation review panel, which cleared Nura Idris of allegations of collaborating with the terrorist group.
In addition to ordering his release, the DSS Director-General approved a compensation of N3 million to assist Idris with his immediate needs and also pledged support to help him rebuild his business, in line with a practice the current leadership has adopted in similar cases.
According to a security source, Idris, a farmer and livestock rearer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested by a sister security agency in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024 over alleged links to terrorists before being transferred to DSS custody.
Following a comprehensive review of his case, the DSS investigation panel found no evidence to support the allegations against him, prompting the Director-General to order his immediate release and compensation.
Receiving the compensation, Idris expressed gratitude to the DSS leadership, saying the money would help him rebuild 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,” the source quoted him as saying.
His 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 compensation would be put to good use.
Another source disclosed that in such cases, the DSS usually follows up with wrongfully detained persons by providing psychological and medical support before helping them establish a business of their choice.
The release forms part of an internal review exercise initiated by the DSS last year to reassess inherited and prolonged detention cases, with the aim of ensuring that innocent individuals are not kept in custody unnecessarily.
“The release and compensation recorded across multiple cases underscore the DSS’s growing reputation for institutional integrity and humanity,” the source said.
“The Service under the current DG has continued to demonstrate that safeguarding national security must go hand in hand with protecting the rights and dignity of citizens.”
The source recalled the case of Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista, who were arrested on November 8, 2021, and detained at the Wawa facility, years before the appointment of the current Director-General in August 2024.
Sunday Ifedi was released on December 16, 2025, after a review cleared him of alleged ties to the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He subsequently received N10 million in compensation.
The source further disclosed that the DSS is also planning to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Ifedi’s late wife, Calista, who died while in custody. The initiative is intended to compensate the family over allegations that the restaurant she operated was patronised by IPOB members, which led to their arrest.
According to the source, more than 30 cases have so far been reviewed, with over N300 million paid as compensation to individuals found to have been wrongfully detained.
The source also recalled that in October 2025, the DSS ordered the release of Abuja-based businesswoman Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe and awarded her N10 million in compensation. The following month, Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who had been arrested in July 2022 over alleged involvement with IPOB, was also released after investigations established his innocence.
Five other detainees wrongfully linked to IPOB were released at the same time, each receiving an initial compensation of N2 million.
Last month, the Service also released Ya’u Mohammed, a resident of Yobe State, after investigations confirmed he had no connection to terrorism. He was provided with 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 deliberate efforts to facilitate reintegration,” the source added. “These measures are part of the Service’s broader commitment to building public trust while carrying out its national security responsibilities.”
