The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of four suspects who were arrested in May 2022 in Bayelsa State. Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry, and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry were cleared of alleged membership of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Each suspect will receive N5 million as compensation.
According to security sources, the suspects were misled into believing they would receive a monthly payment of N100,000 under the Federal Government's Amnesty Programme. However, they were lured by IPOB members who are now facing trial. The DSS established that the suspects had no ties to the proscribed group.
Deji Adeyanju, counsel to the suspects, commended the DSS for their efforts in safeguarding Nigeria's security and upholding human rights. He praised the DGSS for his professionalism and hygiene within the Service, describing it as the best he has witnessed in over 20 years of interacting with DSS personnel.
The suspects' release is part of the DSS's review of over 300 inherited terrorism cases, which has decongested its facility from over 300 to about 100 cases. The DSS has paid over a billion naira in compensation to those cleared of alleged crimes. The DGSS has prioritized upholding human rights and seeking remedies for mistakes.
The DSS will offer psychological and medical support to the four suspects, in addition to the initial N20 million compensation. A source close to the matter expressed confidence that the DSS will also help with their reintegration into society.
The DGSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has admitted that the DSS is prone to mistakes, but emphasized that where there is injury, there must be remedy. He stated that the DSS seeks ways to improve operations in tandem with the rule of law.
This is not an isolated case, as the DSS has handled numerous cases quietly, including compensating a Jos-based businessman with N20 million and covering his medical bills after he was shot erroneously by service personnel. Others, including Chineze Ozoadibe, Sunday Ifedi, and Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, have also received compensation after being cleared of alleged ties to IPOB.
Key points
- The DSS has released four suspected IPOB members and paid N20 million in compensation after investigations cleared them of alleged ties to the proscribed group.
- The suspects were arrested in May 2022 in Bayelsa State and were misled into believing they would receive a monthly payment of N100,000 under the Federal Government's Amnesty Programme.
- The DSS has prioritized upholding human rights and seeking remedies for mistakes, with the DGSS emphasizing that where there is injury, there must be remedy.
