The Director General of the State Security Service (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who was arrested in July 2022 over alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Nwafor, from Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, was discharged after a fresh internal review found no evidence linking him to the allegation. Alongside his release, the DSS awarded him ₦5 million in compensation and approved free medical care to address the impact of his prolonged detention.
The development comes barely a month after Ajayi directed the release and compensation of an Abuja-based businesswoman who had been wrongfully detained by a sister security agency.
DG Orders Review of All Pending Cases
A senior security official, familiar with the investigation, confirmed that Nwafor’s case was revisited under a comprehensive review ordered by the DSS Director General. According to the source, Ajayi had mandated investigators to reassess all cases he inherited to ensure compliance with due process and prevent miscarriages of justice.
“The DG instructed his officers to carry out a detailed review of pending files. Nwafor’s case is one of those reviewed, and the findings cleared him,” the source said.
The official added that three other men from Abia State—identified as Udemba, Onyedikachi, and Eze—were also released after investigators found no strong evidence linking them to IPOB activities.
A Policy of Accountability
The source emphasized that Ajayi has adopted a firm stance on accountability within the service. According to him, the DG believes that mistakes can occur in the course of security operations, but they must be promptly corrected when identified.
“Mr. Ajayi believes that when errors happen, the right thing is to acknowledge them and make amends. He has created a culture of accountability within the DSS, and these compensations reflect that commitment,” the source explained.
He recalled that the DG had previously authorised the payment of ₦20 million to a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot during a 2016 operation. Although the court had initially awarded ₦10 million in damages, the agency did not comply until Ajayi assumed leadership—after which he doubled the compensation.
Pattern of Restitution Under New DSS Leadership
The recent releases and compensations form part of what insiders describe as a new operational ethos within the DSS. In recent months, several individuals wrongfully linked to IPOB were freed and compensated following internal reviews.
Just last month, a detained Abuja businesswoman received ₦10 million, while an additional ₦10 million was shared among five others in similar circumstances.
According to the source, “This has become the norm since the current DG assumed office. He has consistently acted to correct inherited wrongs and uphold the rule of law.”
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