Again, DSS Releases Kaduna Herder Cleared of Boko Haram Links, Pays N3m Compensation
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate release of a Kaduna-based herder who was wrongfully detained over alleged links to Boko Haram following an internal review that cleared him of any involvement in terrorism.
The beneficiary, Nura Idris, was also awarded N3 million as immediate financial support to aid his reintegration, while the DSS Director-General further pledged assistance to help him rebuild his livestock business.
According to security sources, Idris, a farmer and animal rearer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024 by another security agency over suspected terrorist links before being transferred to DSS custody for further investigation.
However, a comprehensive review conducted by the DSS investigation panel found no evidence to substantiate the allegations against him, prompting the Director-General to order his immediate release and approve compensation.
Receiving the financial support, Idris expressed gratitude to the DSS leadership, saying the assistance would enable him to rebuild his life.
«”I thank the DGSS for his kindness. I was well treated while in DSS custody, and I pray that Allah rewards him abundantly,” a source quoted Idris as saying.»
His father, Yusuf Idris, who received him upon his release, also commended the DSS Director-General for what he described as a compassionate and humane decision, assuring that the compensation would be used productively.
Sources disclosed that the Service’s intervention does not end with the release of wrongfully detained persons. Beneficiaries are often provided with psychological and medical support, while efforts are made to help them establish businesses of their choice as part of their reintegration into society.
The release forms part of an ongoing internal review exercise initiated by the DSS last year to reassess inherited and prolonged detention cases, with the objective of ensuring that individuals wrongfully held do not remain in custody.
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According to the sources, the exercise reflects the Service’s commitment to balancing national security responsibilities with respect for the rights and dignity of citizens.
They noted that the initiative has resulted in the review of more than 30 cases, with over N300 million paid as compensation to individuals found to have been wrongfully detained.
Among the notable cases cited was that of Sunday Ifedi, who was arrested alongside his wife, Calista, on November 8, 2021, and detained at the Wawa detention facility. Following a review ordered by the current DSS Director-General after his appointment in August 2024, Ifedi was cleared of alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and released on December 16, 2025. He subsequently received N10 million in compensation.
Sources further revealed that the DSS is making arrangements to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Ifedi’s late wife, Calista, who died while in detention. The initiative is intended to compensate the family following investigations that established the allegations leading to their arrest were unfounded.
The sources also recalled that shortly after approving N10 million compensation for Abuja-based businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe in October 2025, the DSS Director-General ordered the release of Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who had been detained since July 2022 over alleged involvement with IPOB. Five other detainees similarly cleared of any links to the group were released and each received an initial N2 million compensation package.
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 assistance to facilitate his reintegration and restore his livelihood.
“There are many more instances where DSS investigations have established the innocence of detainees and have been followed by deliberate efforts to facilitate their reintegration,” a security source said.
According to the source, such measures are part of broader efforts by the Service to strengthen public confidence by demonstrating that while safeguarding national security remains paramount, justice, accountability and respect for citizens’ rights are equally essential.
By PRNigeria
