BY VICTOR BUORO – In a decisive move to rectify miscarriage of justice, the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate and unconditional release of Nura Idris, a man wrongfully detained over alleged ties to Boko Haram terrorists.
The high-profile intervention marks a significant shift in the Agency’s commitment to justice and human rights, sending a clear message that wrongful deprivation of liberty will not be tolerated under the current leadership.
Thanks to meticulous review by a specialized DSS investigation panel, Nura was cleared of all allegations with proofs that he had no involvement or collaboration with the terror group.
Besides offering Nura N3 million monetary compensation to handle immediate needs, the DSS boss also promised to help revive his business, a practice common with the Agency’s helmsman.
A security source disclosed that Nura, the farmer and animal rearer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested by a sister security agency in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024, for alleged links with terrorists, and was thereafter transferred to DSS custody.
Following a thorough review of his case, the investigation panel found no basis for the charges against him, prompting the DG to order his immediate release and payment of compensation.
Speaking after receiving the compensation, Nura thanked the DSS Chief for what he described as a kind gesture, saying the money would help him restart his life, even as a source quoted him as saying: “I thank the DGSS for his kindness. I was well treated in DSS custody and I pray that Allah rewards the DGSS immensely.”
Nura’s father, Yusuf Idris, who was on hand to receive him upon his release, also expressed appreciation to the DG for his compassion and generosity, assuring that the compensation would be productively utilised.
Another security source, while commenting on the development, said: “When such cases are recorded, the DSS would usually follow up with the detainee, provide psychological and medical support, after which the Agency would further set up any business of the victim’s choice”.
Describing the release as part of DSS’ internal review mechanism which began last year, the source said the exercise aimed at reassessing prolonged inherited cases to ensure that erroneously detained individuals do not remain in detention, adding: “The setting free and compensations across multiple cases underscores the DSS’s growing reputation for institutional integrity and humanness.”
“The Service under the current DG, has continued to show that safeguarding national security and citizens must go hand in hand with upholding the rights and dignity of citizens.
“Recall the case of Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista who were arrested on 8th November 2021 and detained in Wawa facility, three years before the appointment of the current DG in August 2024,” added the source. Sunday was released on 16th December, 2025, after the review of detainees ordered by the DG cleared him of ties with the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the DG awarded him N10 million as compensation.
“Importantly, plans are underway by the DSS to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Ifedi’s wife, Calista, who died while in custody in a detention facility in Wawa. The initiative is to compensate Sunday for the allegations that his late wife operated a restaurant being patronized by IPOB, for which they were arrested. This brings to bear, over thirty cases that have since been reviewed with over 300m paid as compensation,” the source disclosed.
Meanwhile, barely a month after ordering the release and payment of N10 million compensation to an Abuja-based business woman, Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, in October 2025, the DSS boss also ordered the release of one Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, arrested in July 2022, for his alleged involvement in the activities of the proscribed IPOB.
Additionally, five other detainees wrongfully linked to IPOB were by the same directive of the DG, released and each given an initial N2 million cash compensation.
Also, the DSS last month released a Yobe State resident, Ya’u Mohammed, after investigations confirmed that he had no connection to terrorism with the Service providing an initial financial support worth N2 million for reintegration and restoration of his livelihood.
Insider sources further hinted that: “There are many more instances where DSS investigations have established innocence and have been followed by efforts to facilitate reintegration”, adding, “these are the kind of measures the DSS is using to build public trust.”
