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, following a review of his case. The release was accompanied by compensation for the wrongful arrest, according to a statement by DSS spokesman Peter Afunanya.
The man, whose name has not been disclosed for privacy reasons, was arrested in 2025 and detained for several months before the DSS reviewed the evidence and found no credible link to the terrorist group. The DSS apologized for the error and paid an undisclosed sum as compensation.
This action is part of ongoing reforms within the DSS under Director-General Ajayi, who has emphasized the importance of human rights and due process in security operations. The DSS has also pledged to improve its intelligence-gathering methods to prevent similar incidents.
Human rights groups have welcomed the release and compensation, calling it a step toward accountability in Nigeria's security agencies. However, they have urged the DSS to conduct thorough investigations before making arrests to avoid future wrongful detentions.
