The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of four suspects and approved an initial compensation payment of N20 million after investigations cleared them of alleged membership of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Each of the four individuals is expected to receive N5 million as compensation.
Security sources identified the suspects as Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry. They were reportedly arrested in May 2022 in Sampou and Akeddei communities across Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
“The Agency established that they had been misled into believing that they would each receive a monthly payment of N100,000 under the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, not knowing that they were being lured by a group of IPOB members who are now facing trial,” one of the sources disclosed.
While receiving the four individuals, their lawyer, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, praised the DSS for its continued efforts to protect national security, particularly commending the agency’s Director-General for his commitment to safeguarding human rights.
The counsel also applauded the agency’s hygiene standards and professionalism, describing them as the best he had encountered in more than 20 years of dealing with DSS personnel. He further restated his earlier public position that President Bola Tinubu made the right decision by appointing Ajayi as the agency’s head.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Emele Uduma Ibe expressed appreciation to the DSS leadership, describing the day as the happiest of his life. He said the experience had taught him an important lesson that he intended to share with others and prayed for God’s continued blessings upon the Director-General and the agency’s management.
Since assuming office in 2024, Ajayi reportedly ordered a review of more than 300 inherited terrorism-related cases. Following investigations, the DSS panel has reduced the number of detainees in its facility to about 100 and paid more than N1 billion in compensation.
In other cases, the DSS chief approved N20 million in compensation and covered the medical expenses of a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot by security personnel in Plateau State.
Chineze Ozoadibe also received N10 million after being wrongfully arrested, while Sunday Ifedi was paid N10 million after investigations cleared him of alleged links to IPOB. Similarly, Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor received N5 million after being absolved of the allegations.
These payments are in addition to several other cases reportedly handled discreetly by the agency without attracting public attention.
“Like other compensated suspects, the DSS will also offer psychological, medical support to these four in addition the initial amount given,” a source said, expressing confidence that the agency would further assist their reintegration into society.
In a recent maiden media interview, the DSS Director-General acknowledged that the agency, like any human institution, could make mistakes. However, he stressed that such errors must be addressed with appropriate remedies.
“Where we admit our mistakes, we offer compensation, and seek ways to improve operations in tandem with the rule of law,” Ajayi said.