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 of school pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The release was ordered by the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, following a review by an investigation panel which found that the Katsina-born artisan was not a member of any terrorist organisation and had no operational links with the Ansaru terrorist group.
According to a security source, Mustapha was arrested in connection with investigations into the abduction and killing of school pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
He was subsequently subjected to investigation to determine whether he had any involvement in the activities under investigation.
The source said investigators found no evidence linking him to the terrorist group’s membership, financing, logistics or operational activities.
“Following the review, investigators found no evidence linking the carpenter to membership, financing, logistics or operational activities of the terrorist group,” the source said.
Following the findings, Ajayi ordered Mustapha’s immediate release and approved an initial N3 million compensation to assist him with his immediate needs and help him restart his livelihood.
The carpenter was subsequently released to his lawyer, Oghene Forgive, who received him after his discharge from custody.
The source said Mustapha expressed appreciation to the DSS Director-General for what he described as a compassionate and humane intervention.
“He prayed for Allah’s guidance and protection of the DSS leadership, stating that the gesture has given him an opportunity to rebuild his life,” the source said.
Forgive also thanked the DSS DG for the compensation and what he described as his 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.
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The source recalled that Ajayi had previously approved N20 million in compensation for a Sokoto-based businessman who was accidentally shot and injured in 2016 during a pre-dawn raid in Jos.
The businessman had reportedly been caught up in the operation following a case of mistaken identity.
The latest compensation to Mustapha Marwana, according to the source, reflects the DSS leadership’s stated approach of providing support to individuals who are cleared of allegations after investigations.
The agency’s decision to release and compensate the artisan followed the investigation panel’s conclusion that there was no evidence linking him to the terrorist activities under investigation.
