The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate release of three men who were wrongly detained over alleged involvement in banditry and kidnapping. Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo, arrested in June this year, were freed after a review of their cases confirmed their innocence.
The DSS has also approved N3 million in compensation for the trio, who were found to have been detained in error.
Credible security sources disclosed that investigations failed to establish any links between the men and the alleged crimes. The release and compensation are part of the DSS leadership’s efforts to ensure justice for victims of past mistakes.
Many wrongly detained suspects have been released under the new DSS administration, while those found culpable continue to face prosecution in courts. A top security official said, “The DG DSS is an honourable man who acknowledges errors and rectifies them swiftly. He ensures due process is followed in reviewing cases under the agency’s jurisdiction.”
Another source noted that compensation has become an established practice under Ajayi’s leadership, expressing confidence in the agency. The freed suspects expressed gratitude to the DSS, saying they were treated humanely throughout their detention.
