In a bold show of accountability and commitment to human rights, the Director General of Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of several wrongfully detained individuals, including an Abuja-based businesswoman, and awarded substantial compensation to victims of mistaken arrests and abuse.
Among the most recent cases is that of Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, a businesswoman wrongly implicated in an illegal oil bunkering investigation. After being transferred to the DSS by another security agency, further inquiry revealed she was arrested in error. Following this discovery, Mr. Ajayi ordered her immediate release and awarded her ₦10 million in compensation.
This move adds to a growing list of redemptive actions taken under Ajayi’s leadership, marking what insiders describe as a “new culture” within the DSS — one centered around accountability, justice, and redress for wrongful state actions.
In another case, Abdulyakini Salisu, a quarry operator arrested along the Zuba-Kaduna expressway, was found to be a victim of mistaken identity. He was not only released but also granted ₦10 million in compensation and lifetime access to free medical care at DSS facilities.
Also benefiting from the new direction of the DSS is Mohammed Ciroma Jr., a 400-level Computer Science student at Modibbo Adama University, Yola. After a review of his prolonged detention, the DG ordered his release, directed his reinstatement in school, and awarded him a full scholarship funded by the Service.
The DSS has also revisited older cases, including the high-profile 2016 shooting of a Jos-based businessman mistakenly targeted due to a name mix-up. Though a Federal High Court had awarded him ₦10 million in damages, the compensation went unpaid for years — until Ajayi took office in August 2024. Not only did he honor the court’s ruling, but he doubled the payment to ₦20 million and offered the victim free medical care for life.
As part of the latest round of interventions, five other individuals wrongfully arrested are set to share a combined ₦10 million in compensation.
A senior DSS source explained the circumstances behind Ozoadibe’s arrest:
“Some suspects, including the lady, were transferred to the DSS by a sister agency. During investigations, it became clear she had no link to the crime. The DG directed her release and compensation.”
The source emphasized that such actions are now part of the operational ethos of the DSS under Ajayi:
“This is no longer isolated. Since Mr. Ajayi took over, the Service has become more introspective, more willing to admit and correct mistakes.”
According to insiders, one of Ajayi’s first moves as DG was to remind DSS personnel of the fallibility of even the best security agencies. He reportedly instructed his legal and investigative teams to adhere strictly to due process and ensure thorough investigations precede any arrests.
“Mr. Ajayi is a thoroughbred professional,” the source added. “He’s seen first-hand how lives can be ruined by wrongful detention. His philosophy is simple: if a mistake is made, own up to it, make amends, and learn from it.”
Observers have lauded the DSS’s recent actions as a significant step toward improving public trust in security institutions and ensuring accountability within intelligence operations.
As reforms continue, human rights advocates are hopeful that the new leadership at the DSS will set a precedent for other security agencies across Nigeria.
