DSS frees, compensates artisan cleared of Oyo school kidnapping link

The Department of State Services has released a carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, who was arrested over the abduction and killing of pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State.

The Director-General of the service, Tosin Ajayi, ordered his release after investigators cleared him of any link to the attack.

A security source who is privy to the case but wished to remain anonymous said a DSS panel carried out a thorough probe into Marwana’s alleged involvement in the inicident before clearing him.

The panel was said to have found that the Katsina-born artisan was not a member of any terrorist organisation and had no operational ties to the Ansaru terrorist group blamed for the attack.

“Following the review, investigators found no evidence linking the carpenter to membership, financing, logistics or operational activities of the terrorist group.

“Consequently, the DSS DG ordered his immediate release and approved the payment of initial N3 million as compensation to assist him in meeting his immediate needs and restarting livelihood.

“Mustapha was subsequently released to his lawyer, Oghene Forgive, who received him following his discharge from custody,” the source said.

The source said Marwana thanked the DG for what he described as a compassionate and humane intervention.

Forgive, who received Marwana upon his release, also thanked the DG for his generosity and dedication to establishing his client’s innocence.

The compensation, according to the source, is part of measures being adopted by the current DSS leadership to support persons cleared after investigations and to facilitate their reintegration into society.

It was gathered that the DG had, in 2016, handed a N20m compensation to a Sokoto-based businessman who was accidentally shot and injured during a pre-dawn raid in Jos due to mistaken identity.

The source also recalled the case of an Abuja-based businesswoman, Chineze Ozoadibe, whom the DG ordered released and paid N10m as compensation in October 2025 after reviewing her case.

“Since his appointment as DSS DG, Ajayi has been balancing national security responsibilities with respect for the rights and dignity of citizens, resulting in the payment of over N300m as compensation.

“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 added.

Gunmen suspected to be Ansaru terrorists had, on May 15, invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers.

Two of the victims were killed before the remaining captives regained their freedom on July 10 following a military operation.

Since then, security agencies have arraigned several suspects linked to the attack before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with three convicts already sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to terrorism-related charges, while others, including two Ansaru commanders, are standing trial. (Punch)