DSS Frees Four Suspected IPOB Members, Approves ₦20m Compensation

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released four suspects previously arrested over alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), approving ₦20 million in compensation for them following investigations that reportedly cleared them of the allegations.

The Director-General of the Service, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, approved an initial payment of ₦5 million to each of the four individuals as compensation for their wrongful detention.

The beneficiaries are Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry.

Security sources said 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 ₦100,000 under the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme.

The source said they were allegedly lured by individuals linked to IPOB, who are currently facing trial.

The release and compensation followed a review of their cases by the DSS.

Receiving the four suspects, their counsel, Deji Adeyanju of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, commended the Service for its efforts towards national security and acknowledged what he described as the DSS leadership’s commitment to human rights.

Adeyanju also praised the professionalism of DSS personnel, describing the standard of hygiene and conduct within the Service as the best he had witnessed in more than 20 years of interacting with its officers.

He further reiterated his earlier public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Ajayi as Director-General of the Service.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Ibe expressed gratitude to the DSS leadership, describing his release as the happiest day of his life.

He said the experience had taught him important lessons which he intended to share with others, while offering prayers for the DSS Director-General and the management of the Service.

The latest development is part of a broader review of inherited terrorism-related cases initiated by Ajayi after assuming office in 2024.

According to security sources, the DSS Director-General ordered a review of more than 300 cases, with the exercise reportedly reducing the number of detainees in the Service’s facility to about 100 following investigations.

The sources also claimed that the Service had paid more than ₦1 billion in compensation to individuals cleared of allegations or affected by operational mistakes.

Previous cases cited include a Jos-based businessman who received ₦20 million after being mistakenly shot by DSS personnel in Plateau State, with the Service also covering his medical bills.

Chineze Ozoadibe reportedly received ₦10 million following her wrongful arrest, while Sunday Ifedi was compensated with ₦10 million after investigations cleared him of alleged links to IPOB.

Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor was also reportedly paid ₦5 million after investigations absolved him of the allegations.

A security source said the four newly released individuals would receive additional psychological and medical support, alongside assistance towards their reintegration into society.

Ajayi had previously acknowledged that the DSS, like other human institutions, could make mistakes, stressing that such errors should be addressed through appropriate remedies.

He maintained that the Service would accept responsibility where wrongdoing was established, provide compensation where necessary and improve its operations in accordance with the rule of law.

The latest compensation exercise underscores the DSS leadership’s stated approach of combining national security responsibilities with accountability for operational errors and respect for citizens’ rights.