SSS releases man wrongly linked to Oriire schoolchildren abduction, pays N3m compensation
By Adejayan Gbenga
The State Security Service (SSS) has released and compensated a man who was wrongly detained over an alleged connection to the abduction of 46 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The man, identified as Mustapha Marwana, a carpenter from Katsina State, was arrested after being linked to the Ansaru terrorist group and suspected of involvement in the abduction of the schoolchildren and teachers.
However, the SSS said an investigation by a panel established that Marwana was not a member of any terrorist organisation and had no operational links with Ansaru.
Following the findings, the Director-General of the SSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, ordered Marwana’s immediate release after investigators established that he had no connection with the abduction.
The service also said Ajayi approved an initial payment of N3 million to Marwana as compensation to help him meet his immediate needs and restart his livelihood after his detention.
Marwana was released to his lawyer, Oghene Forgive, and reportedly expressed appreciation to the SSS director-general for what he described as a compassionate and humane intervention.
Similarly, Forgive thanked the agency’s leadership for conducting the investigation that established his client’s innocence, while the SSS said the compensation was part of measures to support individuals cleared after investigations and facilitate their reintegration into society.
The service added that since Ajayi became director-general, it had prioritised human rights-related cases, resulting in more than N300 million in compensation to individuals whose cases were reviewed or who were affected by its operations.
