DSS releases man wrongfully detained over IPOB allegations, awards N5m compensation

DSS releases man wrongfully detained over IPOB allegations, awards N5m compensation

The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who was arrested in July 2022 over alleged links to the proscribed IPOB. Nwafor, a native of Isuikwuato in Abia State, was also awarded N5 million compensation and granted access to free medical care following a review that cleared him of wrongdoing.

Credible security sources confirmed that a comprehensive investigation conducted by DSS operatives exonerated Nwafor. According to the source, the DG mandated a thorough reassessment of all pending cases, leading to several corrective actions across the agency.

The review also secured the release of three other Abia residents — Udemba, Onyedikachi, and Eze — who had similarly been detained on suspicion of IPOB association. The intelligence source noted that Ajayi has prioritised accountability, stressing that the DSS must correct any operational errors.

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“Mr Ajayi acknowledges that as humans, mistakes happen. He believes that when mistakes are made, the right thing is to make amends,” the source said, highlighting the DG’s commitment to due process and justice.

This is not the first instance of compensatory action under Ajayi’s leadership. Previous payouts include N20 million to a Jos-based businessman mistakenly shot during a 2016 security operation, and N10 million to an Abuja businesswoman wrongfully detained over alleged oil bunkering.

In recent months, three young men previously detained for alleged IPOB membership were freed and compensated, while the Abuja-based businesswoman received an additional N10 million disbursed to five more victims.

The source described the trend as part of the DSS DG’s ongoing reforms to strengthen public trust, ensure fairness, and uphold the agency’s commitment to justice.

DSS releases man wrongfully detained over IPOB allegations, awards N5m compensation