DSS DG shows renewed commitment to justice, releases 12 detainees, pays compensation
By: Zagazola Makama
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Ajayi, has once again demonstrated his administration’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and human rights, with the release of 12 detainees in July alone and the payment of compensation to victims of wrongful detention and security operations.
The most recent case is that of Abdulyakini Salisu, a stone quarry operator from the Zuba Kaduna axis, who regained freedom after being held in DSS custody since 2022. Following his release on Saturday, Salisu received a formal apology from the Service, and was awarded N10 million as an “initial compensation” a gesture described by security sources as a mark of remorse and the DSS’s new human-rights-centered approach under Ajayi’s leadership.
Salisu’s case, which sources confirmed stemmed from mistaken identity during an anti-kidnapping operation, was among dozens flagged by a special internal review committee established by the DG shortly after he assumed office in August 2024.
In addition to the cash compensation, Salisu is to benefit from free, lifelong access to medical care at the DSS Hospital, as directed by the DG.
This follows an earlier landmark gesture on July 1, 2025, when the DG ordered the release and compensation of 11 artisans who were arrested in Osun State on terrorism-related charges but were later found to be innocent. Among them were Mohammed Adamu, Adamu Abubakar, Mohammed Bindi, and Baba Kura Mallam.
While the exact amount paid to the group was not disclosed, sources within the DSS said the total ran into “several millions of naira,” in what they described as an unprecedented act of institutional accountability and compassion.
The Director-General has also taken bold steps to ensure internal accountability by directing that all officers involved in the wrongful arrests be subjected to disciplinary action.
In another notable case, Mr. Ajayi approved full support for the reinstatement of a 400-level Computer Science student of Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Mohammed Ciroma Jr., who was arrested and detained under a mistaken charge. The DG has further promised a full academic scholarship to enable the student complete his studies, fully funded by the Service.
Security sources confirmed that these actions are in line with Ajayi’s pledge to transform the DSS into a more discreet, accountable, and rights-conscious intelligence agency. Upon assuming office, the DG banned the public display of weapons by operatives and mandated that intelligence and security operations must be guided by the principles of legality and proportionality.
A senior DSS official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ajayi personally monitors public reports and human rights-related complaints, regardless of the source.
“He gave a standing directive that any credible report on the plight of persons wrongfully detained should be brought directly to his attention,” the source said.
“For example, when Sahara Reporters published a report on Salisu’s case, the DG immediately instructed the internal review committee to investigate and report back within 48 hours. Once it was confirmed as a mistaken identity incident, he ordered Salisu’s immediate release and payment of N10 million.”
The DG’s posture, the official added, is guided by President Bola Tinubu’s directive that national security must not be pursued at the cost of citizens’ rights.
“In our line of work, mistakes happen, even in the best security services across the world. What Mr. Ajayi has done is to embrace accountability and make justice the hallmark of his leadership,” the official noted.
The DG’s disposition, observers say, is setting a new tone for the DSS, historically criticized for opacity and alleged human rights infractions. By admitting institutional errors and compensating victims, Ajayi is not only restoring public confidence in the Service but also realigning it with democratic values.
“Security and justice must coexist. We must be humble enough to correct our wrongs and strong enough to show empathy,” another senior officer quoted the DG as saying during a recent strategic briefing.
With these latest developments, the DSS appears to be undergoing a quiet but profound reform under Ajayi’s leadership one that places the Nigerian citizen at the center of security governance, anchored on dignity, fairness and the rule of law.
