Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Pierre Antoine
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a Kaduna State farmer who was previously detained over alleged links to the Boko Haram insurgent group after an internal review found no evidence connecting him to terrorism. In addition to ordering his release, the Service approved a ₦3 million compensation package and pledged further support to help him rebuild his livelihood, a move that officials say reflects the agency's commitment to balancing national security with the protection of citizens' rights.
The development was announced on Friday, June 27, 2026, following a review ordered by Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi. The review concerned Nura Idris, a farmer and livestock rearer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who had been arrested in June 2024 in Suleja, Niger State, by another security agency over alleged links to Boko Haram before being transferred to DSS custody. Following an extensive reassessment of the case, a DSS investigation review panel concluded that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegations against him, leading to his immediate release and compensation.
The decision marks another step in an internal review programme initiated by the DSS to reassess inherited and prolonged detention cases involving individuals accused of terrorism and other national security offences. According to security sources familiar with the exercise, the review seeks to ensure that innocent individuals are not kept in custody once investigations establish that allegations against them cannot be substantiated.
Officials familiar with the process said the Director-General directed that every case undergoing review should be examined strictly on the basis of available evidence rather than assumptions or previous investigative conclusions. The objective, they said, is to strengthen institutional accountability while maintaining the agency's responsibility to safeguard national security.
According to security sources, Idris was initially apprehended in June 2024 after intelligence reportedly linked him to suspected terrorist activities. He was later transferred to the custody of the DSS for further investigation as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in northern Nigeria, where security agencies continue to confront threats posed by Boko Haram and its splinter factions.
The subsequent review conducted by the DSS reportedly involved a detailed examination of intelligence reports, interrogation records and other investigative materials connected to Idris's detention. After completing its assessment, the panel found no evidence demonstrating that he had collaborated with Boko Haram or participated in terrorist activities.
Following the panel's findings, Director-General Ajayi approved Idris's immediate release and authorised a ₦3 million compensation package to help address his immediate financial needs. Security sources also disclosed that the DSS leadership committed to supporting him in rebuilding the farming and livestock business he had lost during his detention.
Receiving the compensation, Idris reportedly expressed appreciation to the leadership of the DSS, describing the assistance as an opportunity to begin rebuilding his life after nearly two years in custody. According to security sources, he also stated that he had been treated well while under the Service's care and offered prayers for the Director-General.
His father, Yusuf Idris, who welcomed him after his release, also thanked the DSS leadership for what he described as an act of compassion and fairness. He expressed hope that the financial assistance would help his son restore his livelihood and reintegrate into society after the prolonged detention.
Security officials disclosed that the DSS has increasingly adopted a broader reintegration approach for individuals cleared after lengthy investigations. Beyond financial compensation, the agency is said to provide psychological counselling, medical support and assistance in establishing small businesses to enable released detainees to return to productive civilian life.
The release of Nura Idris forms part of a wider institutional review launched by the Service in 2025 to reassess inherited detention cases. According to officials familiar with the exercise, the review was introduced to ensure that prolonged detention does not continue where investigations ultimately establish that suspects have no involvement in criminal or terrorist activities.
Security sources said the programme has already resulted in the review of more than 30 cases, with compensation payments reportedly exceeding ₦300 million. Officials argue that the initiative demonstrates a willingness by the Service to acknowledge investigative errors where they occur and to provide practical assistance to affected individuals.
Among the most notable cases cited by officials is that of Sunday Ifedi and his wife, Calista Ifedi, who were arrested on November 8, 2021, over alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Their detention predated the appointment of the current Director-General in August 2024.
Following a review ordered by Ajayi, Sunday Ifedi was released on December 16, 2025, after investigators reportedly found no evidence supporting the allegations against him. The DSS subsequently approved ₦10 million in compensation to assist with his rehabilitation.
Officials also disclosed that the Service plans to rebuild a restaurant owned by the late Calista Ifedi, who died while in custody. According to security sources, the restaurant had allegedly been linked to the couple's arrest because it was suspected of being frequented by IPOB members. The rebuilding project is intended as part of efforts to compensate the family for their losses.
The internal review has also resulted in the release of Abuja-based businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe, who was freed in October 2025 after investigators reportedly concluded that allegations against her could not be substantiated. She was awarded ₦10 million in compensation following her release.
Similarly, Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who had been arrested in July 2022 over alleged involvement with IPOB, was later released after a reassessment of his case. Five other detainees cleared during the same review exercise also received initial compensation payments of ₦2 million each.
Last month, the DSS released Ya'u Mohammed, a resident of Yobe State, after investigations established that he had no connection to terrorist activities. Following his release, he received ₦2 million from the Service to support his reintegration and help restore his livelihood.
Security experts note that wrongful arrests can have severe economic, psychological and social consequences, particularly in terrorism-related investigations where suspects often face prolonged detention before cases are resolved. Compensation and reintegration measures are therefore increasingly viewed as important components of institutional accountability.
At the same time, analysts acknowledge the difficult environment in which Nigerian security agencies operate. The country continues to face persistent threats from Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), armed bandits and separatist groups, requiring agencies to investigate thousands of intelligence leads, many of which ultimately prove unfounded.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly urged security agencies to ensure that counter-terrorism operations remain consistent with constitutional protections, including the presumption of innocence, timely judicial review and access to legal representation. They argue that strong security measures and respect for civil liberties must reinforce rather than undermine one another.
Although the DSS has not released detailed findings of the review into Idris's case, officials maintain that every decision to release a detainee follows a thorough reassessment of available intelligence and investigative evidence. They insist that no individual is released unless investigators are satisfied that there is no basis for continued detention.
The Service says the ongoing review programme demonstrates that national security responsibilities can coexist with institutional transparency and accountability. Officials argue that acknowledging mistakes and providing compensation where appropriate strengthens rather than weakens public confidence in security institutions.
For Nura Idris and his family, the decision ends nearly two years of uncertainty and marks the beginning of efforts to rebuild a life interrupted by allegations that investigators ultimately found to be unsupported. While questions surrounding the circumstances of his original arrest remain unanswered publicly, the DSS says the review reflects its commitment to ensuring that justice is guided by evidence and that innocent citizens are not left behind by the system.
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