The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a Katsina-born carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, after an investigation cleared him of alleged links to the Ansaru terrorist group and the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Ogbomoso axis of Oyo State.
Marwana, who was detained over suspected involvement in the kidnapping incident, was reportedly released following a directive from the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi.
A DSS source disclosed that the agency’s investigation found no evidence linking Marwana to the membership or financing of any terrorist organisation.
Following his release, the security agency also awarded him N3 million in compensation.
Marwana had been arrested in connection with the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in the Ogbomoso area.
Gunmen had attacked three schools during the incident and abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the principal of one of the affected schools.
The abduction attracted significant public attention, with Nigerians mounting pressure on security agencies and the government to secure the victims’ release.
One of the abducted teachers, identified as Michael Oyedokun, was subsequently killed by the kidnappers.
After weeks in captivity, the remaining schoolchildren and teachers were released on July 10.
The development came as security agencies intensified investigations into the circumstances surrounding the attack and worked to identify and apprehend those responsible.
In July, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced three men to life imprisonment over their roles in the abduction.
The convicts were identified as Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
They were convicted on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
Marwana’s release underscores the potential consequences of mistaken identity in counterterrorism and kidnapping investigations, particularly where individuals are linked to criminal networks without sufficient evidence.
The DSS compensation also appears to form part of a broader approach by the agency under Ajayi to compensate individuals who are detained after being wrongly associated with terrorism or other serious crimes.
In June 2026, the DSS released Nura Idris after an internal review cleared him of alleged links to Boko Haram insurgents. The agency subsequently approved N3 million for him as compensation to assist him in rebuilding his life.
In November 2025, the DSS released Kenneth Nwafor after he was found to have been wrongly accused of belonging to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He was awarded N5 million.
Similarly, in October 2025, the agency released Abuja-based businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe after she was wrongfully arrested by a sister security agency over suspected involvement in illegal oil bunkering and subsequently transferred to the DSS. She received N10 million in compensation.
The latest case involving Marwana comes amid growing calls for security agencies to strengthen their investigative processes and ensure that innocent citizens are not subjected to prolonged detention or public suspicion over crimes they did not commit.
The DSS’s decision to release Marwana and compensate him after clearing his name is therefore likely to renew discussions around accountability, due process and safeguards for individuals caught up in investigations into terrorism and organised crime.
