The Department of State Services (DSS) has freed three individuals who were mistakenly detained over allegations of involvement in banditry and kidnapping.

The men — Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo — were arrested in June but later cleared after the DSS reviewed their cases and confirmed they had no connection to the alleged crimes.

The Director General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, also approved a compensation payment of N3 million to the trio in acknowledgement of the wrongful detention.

Their release and the approved compensation are part of ongoing efforts by the current DSS leadership to correct past errors and ensure justice for individuals wrongly held by the agency. Many others who were unjustly detained have also been set free, while suspects found culpable are being prosecuted.

A senior security official praised the DG for his transparency, saying:
“The DG is a straightforward leader who recognizes mistakes and addresses them quickly. He insists on due process and has continued reviewing cases under the agency to ensure justice is served.”

The freed men expressed gratitude for their release and noted that they were treated decently throughout their detention.

“We were well fed, and no one maltreated us. The officers attended to our needs, and we cooperated throughout the investigation until our release,” Ibrahim said.