Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Ajayi, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to human rights by authorizing the release of 12 detainees in the month of July, including a suspect who had been held since 2022.
The latest release, which took place on Saturday, also came with a financial compensation package and an official apology.
Abdulyakini Salisu, a quarry operator arrested on the Zuba-Kaduna expressway, was released following a review of his case which revealed a mistaken identity. In addition to his freedom, Salisu was awarded N10 million as initial compensation and granted lifetime access to free medical care at the DSS medical facility.
Security sources described the payment as a “gesture of remorse” by the Service and hinted that additional compensation may follow. “The DG’s directive was clear: Salisu should not only be released but supported. This is just the beginning of what he may receive,” said one source.
This development marks the third major release of detainees under Ajayi’s tenure. On July 1, 11 individuals previously arrested in Osun State on terrorism-related charges were released and compensated with undisclosed sums running into several millions of naira. Among those released were Mohammed Adamu, Adamu Abubakar, Mohammed Bindi, and Baba Kura Mallam.
In response to the wrongful arrests, the DSS has initiated disciplinary measures against officers involved. “The DG is not only reviewing cases of wrongful detention but is also holding those responsible accountable,” a top DSS official confirmed.
The DSS under Ajayi has also intervened in the case of Mohammed Ciroma Jr., a 400-level Computer Science student at Modibbo Adama University, Yola. Following the review of his detention, the DG directed the Service to facilitate his reinstatement in school and awarded him a full scholarship funded by the DSS.
Saturday’s release and compensation of Salisu followed a report by Sahara Reporters, which drew attention to his prolonged detention. According to internal sources, the DG ordered the investigation committee to confirm Salisu’s case within 48 hours. Once verified, the release and compensation were promptly approved.
“When the DG confirmed that Salisu was wrongly linked to a kidnap suspect with a similar name, he moved swiftly,” said a senior officer. “That is the kind of leadership we are seeing under Ajayi—quick to accept mistakes and take corrective action.”
In May, the DSS paid N20 million to a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot in 2016 by operatives pursuing a gunrunner with a similar name. That incident, according to sources, was one of several brought before a review committee established by Ajayi upon taking office in August 2024.
The DG has reportedly directed the public relations department of the Service to monitor media reports and alerts—regardless of source—relating to alleged wrongful detentions or rights abuses, and escalate them for prompt action.
Ajayi’s approach is consistent with his stated reform agenda upon assuming office, where he pledged to overhaul the Service’s operations to be more intelligence-driven while remaining grounded in respect for human rights.
“The DG doesn’t deny that there have been past abuses,” said an official. “But he believes that when mistakes are made, the Service must be bold enough to acknowledge them, make restitution, and ensure they are not repeated.”
According to insiders, the DSS’s new human rights posture aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that no Nigerian should be subjected to rights violations under his administration.
“Even the best intelligence agencies make errors. The difference is whether you cover them up or own up to them. Ajayi has chosen the path of accountability,” the source concluded.
