An innocent carpenter detained in connection with a deadly school assault in Oyo State has been exonerated and granted ₦3 million in compensation by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Mustapha Marwana was released on the orders of the DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, after an internal security review cleared him of all involvement in the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Oriire on 15 May.
That attack, attributed to the Ansaru terrorist organisation, resulted in the murder of two captives before a military operation rescued the survivors on 10 July. While several suspects face trial and three convicts have received life sentences at the Federal High Court in Abuja, investigators confirmed Marwana had no ties to the group.
A panel established by the agency found that the Katsina-born craftsman had played no role in the raid, nor did he hold operational, financial, or logistical links to Ansaru. Following his discharge, Marwana was handed over to his legal representative, Oghene Forgive. Both the artisan and his lawyer expressed gratitude to the Director-General for his humane approach and commitment to establishing the truth.
The ₦3 million payout forms part of a broader initiative under Ajayi’s leadership to assist wrongfully detained individuals with immediate financial support and societal reintegration.
This financial redress is not unprecedented within the service. In 2016, a Sokoto-based businessman mistakenly shot during a dawn raid in Jos was awarded ₦20 million, while an Abuja businesswoman, Chineze Ozoadibe, received ₦10 million upon her discharge in October 2025.
According to a security insider, such measures reflect a deliberate policy shift under the current Director-General, who has overseen more than ₦300 million in total compensation payments to exonerated individuals. The source noted that these actions demonstrate how the agency is “balancing national security responsibilities with respect for the rights and dignity of citizens,” adding that such efforts serve as key mechanisms through which the DSS is “strengthening public confidence and building trust.”