Mustapha Marwana receives ₦3m after investigation finds no link to Ansaru or terrorist activities.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released and compensated a carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, after an investigation cleared him of allegations linking him to terrorist activities and the abduction and killing of school pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Marwana, a native of Katsina State, was arrested in connection with the incident and subjected to investigation to determine whether he had any involvement in the activities under investigation.
A security source said the investigation found no evidence linking the artisan to membership, financing, logistics or operational activities of the Ansaru terrorist group.
Following the findings, the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, ordered Marwana’s immediate release and approved an initial ₦3 million compensation to help him meet his immediate needs and restart his livelihood.
Marwana was subsequently released to his lawyer, Oghene Forgive, who received him after his discharge from custody.
The source said Marwana expressed appreciation to Ajayi for what he described as a compassionate and humane intervention, adding that the gesture had given him an opportunity to rebuild his life.
Forgive also thanked the DSS director-general for his intervention and commitment to establishing his client’s innocence.
According to the source, the compensation is part of measures adopted by the current DSS leadership to support individuals cleared after investigations and facilitate their reintegration into society.
The source recalled that Ajayi had previously approved ₦20 million compensation for a Sokoto-based businessman who was accidentally shot and injured in 2016 during a pre-dawn raid in Jos following a case of mistaken identity.
It also cited the case of Abuja-based businesswoman, Chineze Ozoadibe, who was released and compensated with ₦10 million in October 2025 following a review of her case.
The source said Ajayi had, since assuming office as DSS director-general, sought to balance national security responsibilities with respect for the rights and dignity of citizens, resulting in more than ₦300 million in compensation payments.
“There are many more instances where DSS investigations have established innocence and have been followed by efforts to facilitate reintegration. These are the kind of measures through which the Service is strengthening public confidence and building trust,” the source said.