By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nA legal practitioner and human rights advocate, Hamza Dantani, has called on security agencies across Nigeria to establish compensation mechanisms for innocent citizens who are wrongly arrested, unlawfully detained, or harmed during official operations, urging them to emulate the Department of State Services (DSS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dantani made the call while commending the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, for introducing a compensation policy for victims of wrongful arrests and operational errors. He described the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening accountability, justice, and public confidence in Nigeria\u2019s security institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement titled \u201cDSS Compensation Initiative Sets Standard for Security Agencies,\u201d<\/em> Dantani said the policy deserved national recognition because it demonstrated that security agencies could acknowledge mistakes without compromising their operational effectiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAccording to him, agencies charged with protecting the nation also have constitutional, legal, and moral obligations to provide redress whenever innocent citizens suffer violations of their rights as a result of official actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is a bold, commendable and unprecedented initiative that deserves national recognition,\u201d Dantani said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt demonstrates that while security agencies have a constitutional responsibility to safeguard the nation, they also have a moral and legal duty to acknowledge errors and provide remedies for innocent citizens whose rights have been infringed upon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The human rights advocate stressed that the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality must always be conducted within the framework of the law and with full respect for fundamental human rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality remains a national priority. However, the pursuit of security must never come at the expense of justice. National security and the protection of fundamental rights are complementary principles that reinforce one another,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dantani noted that the DSS had demonstrated that public institutions could admit and correct operational mistakes while maintaining public trust and confidence. He argued that accountability remains essential to building stronger relationships between security agencies and the citizens they serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To illustrate the impact of the compensation policy, he cited several publicly reported beneficiaries, including Kaduna-based farmer and herder, Nura Idris, who reportedly received \u20a63 million after being wrongly linked to Boko Haram activities. He also referenced Abuja-based businesswoman, Chineze Ozoadibe, who was reportedly awarded \u20a610 million following her wrongful arrest over allegations of oil bunkering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further cited the case of a Sokoto-based trader who reportedly received \u20a620 million and lifetime medical care after being mistakenly shot during a security operation in Jos in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other beneficiaries, he said, included Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo, who received compensation after being wrongfully arrested on allegations of banditry and kidnapping. He also mentioned 11 artisans from Osun State who were reportedly exonerated of terrorism-related allegations and compensated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Dantani, wrongful arrests and unlawful detentions often result in severe emotional trauma, financial hardship, reputational damage, and social stigma for victims and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While financial compensation may not completely erase the suffering experienced by victims, he said it serves as an important acknowledgment of wrongdoing and demonstrates the state’s willingness to accept responsibility for its actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He therefore urged the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other law enforcement agencies to establish similar compensation frameworks for innocent citizens affected by wrongful arrests, unlawful detention, or operational mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dantani also advocated reforms aimed at reducing incidents of wrongful arrests, including improved intelligence gathering, enhanced identity verification systems, greater reliance on forensic investigations, stronger inter-agency collaboration, regular human rights training for security personnel, and the establishment of independent complaint-review mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to him, professionalism in law enforcement requires security personnel to exercise caution before depriving citizens of their liberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAn arrest should never be treated as punishment, and detention should never become a substitute for proper investigation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He commended the DSS Director-General for setting what he described as a positive precedent for other security institutions and expressed optimism that the initiative would usher in a new era of accountability, respect for constitutional rights, and justice for innocent Nigerians affected by operational errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dantani concluded that the true measure of any justice system lies not only in its ability to punish offenders but also in its willingness to protect the innocent, acknowledge mistakes, and provide effective remedies whenever citizens are wrongfully harmed by the actions of the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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