By Lukman Ajadi, Abuja

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released and compensated a Kaduna State-based farmer and livestock rearer, Nura Idris, after an internal review cleared him of alleged links to Boko Haram insurgents.

The decision was approved by the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, following the findings of a review panel that found no evidence connecting Idris to terrorist activities.

In addition to ordering his immediate release, the DSS provided Idris with N3 million as financial support to assist his reintegration and meet immediate needs. The Service also pledged to support him in rebuilding his livelihood and expanding his business activities.

According to security sources, Idris, a resident of Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested in Suleja, Niger State, in June 2024 by another security agency over suspected terrorist links before being transferred to DSS custody for further investigation.

After a comprehensive review of the case, investigators reportedly found no basis for the allegations against him, prompting the DSS leadership to authorize his release and compensation.

Speaking after regaining his freedom, Idris expressed gratitude to the DSS Director-General for what he described as a compassionate gesture.

“I thank the DGSS for his kindness. I was treated well while in DSS custody, and I pray that Allah rewards him abundantly,” he was quoted as saying.

His father, Yusuf Idris, who received him upon release, also commended the DSS leadership for its compassion and assured that the financial assistance would be used productively.

A security source disclosed that in cases where investigations establish a detainee’s innocence, the DSS often provides follow-up support, including psychological and medical assistance, as well as livelihood restoration programmes designed to aid reintegration into society.

The release forms part of an ongoing internal review initiative launched by the DSS to reassess long-standing and inherited detention cases, with the objective of ensuring that individuals wrongly held in custody are identified and released.

According to the source, the exercise reflects the agency’s commitment to accountability, fairness, and the protection of citizens’ rights while maintaining national security responsibilities.

“The Service under the current Director-General has continued to demonstrate that safeguarding national security must go hand in hand with respecting the rights and dignity of citizens,” the source stated.

The source also referenced the case of Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista, who were arrested on November 8, 2021, and detained at the Wawa facility. Following a review ordered by the current DSS Director-General after his appointment in August 2024, Ifedi was cleared of alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and released on December 16, 2025.

As part of his rehabilitation, the DSS reportedly awarded Ifedi N10 million in compensation.

The source further revealed that plans are underway to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Ifedi’s late wife, Calista, who died while in custody. The initiative is intended to provide additional support to the family following investigations that cleared them of allegations relating to IPOB activities.

According to the source, more than 30 cases have so far been reviewed under the initiative, with compensation exceeding N300 million paid to individuals found to have been wrongfully detained.

The review programme has also led to the release of several other detainees, including Abuja-based businesswoman Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe and Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who had been detained over alleged involvement with IPOB.

Five other detainees similarly cleared of wrongdoing were released and each received an initial compensation package of N2 million.

In another recent case, the DSS released Ya’u Mohammed, a resident of Yobe State, after investigations confirmed that he had no links to terrorism. Following his release, he received N2 million in financial assistance to facilitate his reintegration and restore his means of livelihood.

Security sources maintain that the Service has continued to adopt measures aimed at rebuilding public confidence by ensuring that individuals cleared through investigations receive support to restart their lives.

They added that the initiative demonstrates the agency’s commitment to strengthening public trust through transparency, justice, and respect for the rule of law while fulfilling its national security mandate.