The Director-General of the State Security Service (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has authorised the release of Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who was arrested in July 2022 over alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
This authorisation came barely a month after ordering the release and compensation of Abuja-based businesswoman Mrs Chineze Ozoadibe.
Nwafor, a native of Isuikwuato Local Government Area in Abia State, was not only released but also awarded N5 million as compensation for his wrongful arrest, along with free medical care.
Credible sources within the Service revealed that a thorough investigation by DSS personnel exonerated Nwafor, confirming that he had no involvement with IPOB.
His release and compensation are part of a wider review of pending cases initiated by the DG to ensure due process and prompt justice.
“The DG directed his officers to review all inherited cases meticulously, and Nwafor’s case is one of such instances,” a source stated.
The source added that three other Abia men—Udemba, Onyedikachi, and Eze—suspected of IPOB affiliation, were similarly released under this policy.
“This is one of several gestures by the DG that underscore his commitment to the rule of law and adherence to DSS standard operating procedures,” the source explained.
“Mr Ajayi recognises that errors sometimes occur and believes in making amends, thereby fostering a culture of accountability within the Service,” the source said.
Highlighting past precedents, the source recalled that under Ajayi’s leadership, a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot during a security operation in 2016 received N20 million in compensation.
Even when the court had awarded N10 million in damages against the DSS, the agency did not pay until Ajayi assumed office, at which point he doubled the amount.
“Nwafor is not the first Igbo to benefit from such corrective actions. In recent months, the DG has also ordered the release of three young men wrongfully detained for alleged IPOB involvement, as well as compensating Mrs Ozoadibe for her detention over alleged illegal oil bunkering,” a source revealed.
According to the source, these actions reflect a consistent pattern under the current DSS leadership, signalling a renewed focus on justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights.
Linus Aleke in Abuja
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