DSS Releases Four Suspected IPOB Members, Approves ₦20m Compensation

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has released four men arrested over alleged membership in the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), following investigations that reportedly cleared them of wrongdoing.

The agency has also approved ₦20 million in compensation for the four men, with an initial payment of ₦5 million allocated to each beneficiary by DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.

The beneficiaries, who were arrested in May 2022 in Sampou and Akeddei communities in Bayelsa State, are Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry.

The development follows a review of inherited terrorism-related cases by the DSS leadership, as the agency continues efforts to address cases involving individuals reportedly cleared of wrongdoing.

Key Takeaways

The DSS has released four men arrested over alleged IPOB membership in Bayelsa State in May 2022.
Investigations reportedly established that the men were unaware of the activities of the group.
The agency approved ₦20 million in compensation, with an initial allocation of ₦5 million for each beneficiary.
The four beneficiaries are Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry.
The DSS reportedly reviewed more than 300 inherited terrorism-related cases following Ajayi’s assumption of office in 2024.
The released men are expected to receive psychological and medical support, alongside assistance with reintegration into society.

Why the DSS Released the Four Suspected IPOB Members

The four men were arrested in May 2022 in Sampou and Akeddei communities, located in Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.

According to security sources, the men were allegedly misled into joining the group after some IPOB members promised them monthly payments of ₦100,000 under the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme.

The sources further stated that investigations established that the four beneficiaries were unaware of the group’s activities.

Those who allegedly recruited the men are currently facing trial, according to the report.

Following the investigation and the findings concerning the four men, the DSS proceeded with their release and approved compensation for them.

DSS Approves ₦20 Million Compensation for the Beneficiaries

DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi approved an initial compensation payment of ₦5 million for each of the four men, bringing the total approved amount to ₦20 million.

The compensation represents a financial remedy following the agency’s investigation and decision to clear the beneficiaries of wrongdoing.

It is important to distinguish the approval from confirmed disbursement: the available report states that the Director-General approved the initial payments but does not independently establish that all four beneficiaries have received the money.

The development also forms part of the agency’s broader approach to reviewing cases and addressing situations in which individuals are found not to have been responsible for the allegations against them.

DSS Reviews More Than 300 Inherited Terrorism-Related Cases

The compensation followed a review of more than 300 inherited terrorism-related cases ordered by Ajayi after he assumed office as DSS Director-General in 2024.

The agency has reportedly reduced the number of detainees in its facility to approximately 100.

It has also reportedly paid more than ₦1 billion in compensation to individuals who were cleared of wrongdoing or affected by its operations.

These figures provide a wider picture of the agency’s reported efforts to review detention cases and provide remedies to individuals affected by its activities.

However, the figures relate to the broader DSS review and compensation record, not just the four men recently released in Bayelsa State.

Other Individuals Who Have Received DSS Compensation

The four Bayelsa beneficiaries are not the only individuals mentioned in the report as having received compensation following DSS investigations or operational incidents.

One of the other beneficiaries was a Jos-based businessman who received ₦20 million after DSS operatives mistakenly shot him in Plateau State.

Chineze Ozoadibe and Sunday Ifedi also received ₦10 million each after investigations reportedly cleared them of wrongdoing.

In another case, Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor received ₦5 million after the agency absolved him of alleged links to IPOB.

These cases form part of the wider compensation record attributed to the DSS and illustrate the different circumstances in which the agency has reportedly approved financial remedies.

DSS Promises Medical and Psychological Support for Released Men

Beyond the approved financial compensation, the four beneficiaries are expected to receive additional support to help them return to normal life.

A security source disclosed that the men would receive psychological and medical assistance, alongside support for their reintegration into society.

The proposed assistance is significant because the consequences of prolonged detention can extend beyond the period of confinement, making medical care and reintegration support important considerations for affected individuals.

However, the report does not provide details about the specific support programmes, their duration or the organisations responsible for delivering them.

Law Firm Commends DSS Over Release and Compensation

Counsel to the beneficiaries, Deji Adeyanju & Partners, commended the DSS for what it described as an effort to balance national security responsibilities with respect for human rights.

The law firm also praised the agency’s professionalism, describing its conduct as the best it had witnessed in more than 20 years of interacting with DSS personnel.

It further expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Ajayi as Director-General of the agency.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Emele Uduma Ibe described his release as the happiest day of his life and thanked the DSS leadership for its intervention.

The reactions provide the perspectives of the beneficiaries and their legal representatives following the release and compensation approval.

DSS Director-General Speaks on Correcting Operational Mistakes

Ajayi has acknowledged that the DSS could make mistakes in the course of carrying out its responsibilities, while stressing the importance of providing remedies when its operations cause harm.

Explaining the agency’s position, the Director-General said:

“Where we admit our mistakes, we offer compensation, and seek ways to improve operations in tandem with the rule of law.”

The statement reflects the position attributed to Ajayi on compensation, institutional accountability and the need to improve the agency’s operations within the framework of the rule of law.

The release of the four men and the compensation approval therefore represent another development in the DSS’s reported review of inherited cases and its efforts to address instances in which individuals are cleared of wrongdoing.

What the DSS Compensation Decision Means

The release of the four men highlights the importance of reviewing security-related cases and ensuring that individuals are not subjected to continued detention when investigations establish that they were not responsible for the alleged wrongdoing.

The compensation approval also raises the importance of accountability when mistakes occur during security operations.

While the DSS has reportedly undertaken a wider review of inherited cases and approved compensation for affected individuals, the effectiveness of such measures will depend on transparent investigations, appropriate remedies and respect for the rule of law.

For the four beneficiaries, the next stage will involve receiving the support promised and rebuilding their lives following their release.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why did the DSS release the four suspected IPOB members?

The DSS released the four men after investigations reportedly established that they were unaware of the activities of the group and cleared them of wrongdoing.

2. How much compensation did the DSS approve for the four men?

The DSS approved a total of ₦20 million, with an initial allocation of ₦5 million for each beneficiary.

3. Who are the four men released by the DSS?

They are Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry.

4. When were the four men arrested?

They were arrested in May 2022 in Sampou and Akeddei communities in Bayelsa State.

5. Who approved the compensation payment?

The compensation was approved by DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi.

6. How many terrorism-related cases has the DSS reviewed?

The report states that Ajayi ordered a review of more than 300 inherited terrorism-related cases after assuming office in 2024.

7. What other support will the released men receive?

According to a security source, the men are expected to receive psychological and medical support, alongside assistance with reintegration into society.

8. Has the DSS paid more than ₦1 billion in compensation?

The report states that the DSS has reportedly paid more than ₦1 billion in compensation to individuals cleared of wrongdoing or affected by its operations.

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