FEATURED
DSS Releases 4 Suspected IPOB Members, Pays N20m Compensation
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released four men previously arrested over alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), approving N20 million in compensation for them after investigations cleared them of the allegations.
The DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, approved N5 million for each of the four men as compensation for their wrongful arrest and detention.
The beneficiaries are Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry.
Security sources disclosed that the four were arrested in May 2022 in Sampou and Akeddei communities in Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
According to one of the sources, investigations established that the suspects had been misled into believing they would receive monthly payments of N100,000 under the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme.
The source said they were allegedly lured by individuals linked to IPOB, who are currently facing trial.
While receiving the freed men, their lawyer, Deji Adeyanju of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, commended the DSS for its efforts in safeguarding national security and its commitment to protecting human rights.
Adeyanju also praised what he described as the professionalism and high standards of hygiene within the Service, saying it was the best he had witnessed in more than 20 years of interacting with DSS personnel.
He further maintained that President Bola Tinubu made the right decision in appointing Ajayi as the agency’s Director-General.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ibe described his release as the happiest day of his life, adding that his experience had taught him valuable lessons he intended to share with others.
He also expressed gratitude to the DSS leadership and prayed for continued blessings for the agency’s Director-General and management.
The development comes amid the DSS leadership’s efforts to review inherited terrorism-related cases.
Sources said that shortly after assuming office in 2024, Ajayi ordered a review of more than 300 inherited cases, leading to investigations and the release of suspects whose involvement in terrorism-related activities could not be established.
The exercise has reportedly reduced the number of detainees in the agency’s facility to about 100, while more than N1 billion has been paid in compensation to individuals cleared of allegations or wrongly affected by the agency’s operations.
Other beneficiaries include a Jos-based businessman who received N20 million after being mistakenly shot by DSS personnel in Plateau State.
Chineze Ozoadibe and Sunday Ifedi were each reportedly compensated with N10 million after investigations cleared them of wrongdoing, while Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor received N5 million after being absolved of alleged IPOB links.
A security source said the four newly released men would also receive psychological and medical support in addition to the financial compensation, as part of efforts to facilitate their reintegration into society.
In a recent maiden media interview, Ajayi acknowledged that the DSS, like any human institution, could make mistakes but stressed the need to provide remedies whenever individuals suffered injuries as a result.
He said the agency was committed to accepting responsibility where necessary, compensating affected persons and improving its operations in line with the rule of law.
