DSS frees herder wrongfully arrested over alleged terrorism link

The Department of State Services (DSS) has ordered the immediate release of Nura Idris, a herder who was wrongfully arrested over alleged links to terrorism after an internal review cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, approved Idris’ release following the findings of an investigative panel, which established that there was no evidence linking him to Boko Haram terrorists.

Ajayi also directed that Idris be paid N3 million as immediate financial support and ordered that he be assisted to establish a business.

Daily Trust gathered that Idris, a herder and farmer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024 over alleged links to terrorists.

A senior official of the agency told Daily Trust that Idris was not initially arrested by the DSS but was transferred to the Service by another security agency after his arrest.

The official explained that a comprehensive review of the case found no basis for the allegations against Idris, prompting the DSS Director-General to order his immediate release and approve compensation.

Receiving the compensation, Idris expressed appreciation to the DSS boss, saying the support would enable him to rebuild his life.

“I thank the DGSS for his kindness. I was well treated in DSS custody and I pray that Allah rewards the DGSS immensely,” the source quoted Idris as saying.

His father, Yusuf Idris, who received him upon his release, also thanked the DSS Director-General for what he described as his compassion and generosity, assuring that the compensation would be put to good use.

According to another source, the DSS usually follows up on such cases by providing psychological and medical support before assisting affected persons to establish a business of their choice.

The release, the source said, forms part of an internal review exercise initiated by the DSS last year to reassess prolonged inherited cases and ensure that persons wrongly detained are not kept in custody unnecessarily.

“The setting free and compensations across multiple cases underscores the DSS’s growing reputation for institutional integrity and humanness,” the source said.

The official added that under the leadership of the current Director-General, the Service has continued to demonstrate that safeguarding national security must go hand in hand with protecting the rights and dignity of citizens.

The source recalled that Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista, who were arrested on November 8, 2021, and detained at the Wawa facility three years before the appointment of the current DG in August 2024, were also recently reviewed.

Sunday Ifedi was released on December 16, 2025, after the review panel cleared him of alleged ties to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Following his release, Ajayi approved N10 million as compensation.

The source further disclosed that the DSS is making plans to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Ifedi’s late wife, Calista, who died while in custody at the Wawa detention facility.

According to the source, the initiative is intended to compensate Sunday Ifedi over allegations that his wife’s restaurant was patronised by IPOB members, which led to their arrest.

The official added that more than 30 cases have so far been reviewed under the exercise, with over N300 million paid as compensation.

The source also recalled that barely one month after approving N10 million compensation for Ifedi, the DSS released an Abuja-based businesswoman, Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe.

Similarly, in October 2025, Ajayi ordered the release of Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who had been arrested in July 2022 over alleged involvement in the activities of the proscribed IPOB.

Five other detainees who were also wrongly linked to IPOB were released under the same directive, with each receiving an initial N2 million as compensation.

Last month, the DSS equally released Ya’u Mohammed, a resident of Yobe State, after investigations confirmed that he had no connection to terrorism.

Following his release, the Service provided him with N2 million in financial support to facilitate his reintegration and help restore his livelihood.

“There are many more instances where DSS investigations have established innocence and have been followed by efforts to facilitate reintegration,” the source said, adding, “these are the kind of measures the DSS is using to build public trust.”

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