- Pays out N3m compensation to three victims
BY VICTOR BUORO – The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate release of three individuals arrested in June 2025 for their alleged involvement in kidnapping and banditry.
Additionally, the DSS boss has approved that N3 million be paid as compensation to the trio of Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo whose cases were among the many reviewed by a DSS panel, and found to have been arrested in error.
According to credible security sources, the decision was taken after investigations failed to establish any link between the suspects and their alleged crimes.
The sources disclosed that releasing the three men and the accompanying compensation, are part of the DSS leadership’s efforts to ensure justice are served to victims of the agency’s past mistakes.
Forefront News gathered that detailed investigations have been ongoing for months across DSS cases, leading to the release of several suspects who were found to be innocent, while those found culpable are facing prosecution.
One of the sources said: “The DG DSS is an honourable man who acknowledges errors and rectifies them swiftly. He attempts to ensure due process is followed to ensure the right thing is done. This is why he has sustained efforts in reviewing cases under the agency’s jurisdiction.”
Further describing payment of compensation as an established practice under Ajayi’s leadership and expressed confidence in the Agency, another source said: “When the DG DSS paid double compensation to the Jos-based businessman who was erroneously shot many years ago, who knew he would continue compensating other victims?
“His approach to accountability and humanity should be studied. I am confident that, with the payment of such compensation, officers of the agency will be more vigilant to ensure they take the right actions.”
Meanwhile, in expressing gratitude to the DSS boss, the suspects said they were humanely treated throughout their stay.
Speaking on their detention experience, on the released suspects, Umar Ibrahim,
said: “We were properly fed and we were not abused in any way. The officers ensured that our needs were met and we cooperated throughout the investigation till we were finally released.”
The freed men prayed for God’s mercy and protection on the Director General to continue delivering on his given security mandate based on equity and justice to all as head of Nigeria’s secret Police
In June 2025, the DSS, as part of its proactive security measures amid raging security threats, intercepted some suspects, who had just returned from the 2025 Hajj exercise at the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, Kwara State on allegations of their involvement in kidnapping and banditry in the country.
