The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has directed the immediate release of three individuals arrested in June 2025 for their alleged involvement in banditry and kidnapping.
The DG also approved that N3 million be paid as compensation to the trioka of Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo whose cases were among the many reviewed by a DSS panel, and found to have been arrested in error.
Credible security sources disclosed that investigations failed to establish any link between the suspects and their alleged crimes.
The release of the three men, and the accompanying compensation, noted the source, is part of efforts by the DSS leadership to ensure that justice is served to victims of the agency’s mistakes
The detailed investigations, ongoing for months across DSS cases, have led to the release of several suspects who were found to be innocent, while those found culpable are facing prosecution.
“The DG DSS is a honorable man who acknowledges errors and rectifies them swiftly. He attempts to ensure due process is followed to ensure the right thing is done. This is why he has sustained efforts in reviewing cases under the agency’s jurisdiction,” offered one of the sources.
Another source described payment of compensation as an established practice under Ajayi’s leadership and expressed confidence in the Agency.
“When the DG DSS paid double compensation to the Jos based businessman who was erroneously shot many years ago, who knew he would continue compensating other victims?” quizzed another source.
“His approach to accountability and humanity should be studied. I am confident that, with the payment of such compensation, officers of the agency will be more vigilant to ensure they take the right actions, ” he added.
Expressing gratitude to the DG DSS, the suspects revealed that they were humanely treated throughout their stay.
“We were properly fed and we were not abused in any way. The officers ensured that our needs were met and we cooperated throughout the investigation till we were finally released,” remarked Ibrahim, even as they prayed for God’s mercy on the DG.
It would be recalled that, as part of the agency’s proactive security measures amid raging security threats, it had, in June 2025, intercepted some suspects, who had just returned from the 2025 Hajj exercise at the Tunde Idiagbon International Airport, Ilorin, Kwara State on allegations of their involvement in kidnapping and banditry.