The Director-General of the State Security Service (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has authorised the release of Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, who had been in detention since July 2022 over alleged ties to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The move comes barely a month after Ajayi ordered the release and compensation of Abuja-based businesswoman, Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, highlighting a broader review of pending cases by the DSS aimed at ensuring due process and prompt justice.
Nwafor, a native of Isuikwuato Local Government Area in Abia State, was not only released but also awarded N5 million in compensation for wrongful arrest, in addition to receiving free medical care.
Credible sources within the DSS confirmed that a thorough investigation cleared him of any involvement with IPOB.
“The DG directed his officers to review all inherited cases meticulously, and Nwafor’s case is one of such instances,” a source familiar with the matter stated.
The review has also led to the release of three other Abia men, Udemba, Onyedikachi, and Eze, who had been suspected of IPOB affiliation, reflecting the DSS leadership’s commitment to rectifying errors in the handling of past cases.
“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.
“Mr. Ajayi recognises that errors sometimes occur and believes in making amends, thereby fostering a culture of accountability within the Service, ” the source said.
The source highlighted similar corrective actions under Ajayi’s leadership, noting that a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot during a security operation in 2016 received N20 million in compensation.
While the courts had previously awarded him N10 million, the DSS honoured the full amount only after Ajayi assumed office, doubling the original award.
“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,” the source added.
These recent developments signal a renewed focus under the current DSS leadership on justice, accountability, and the protection of human rights, as the Service seeks to correct past mistakes and reinforce public confidence in its operations.
