Human rights Activist, Hamza N. Dantani Esq,
As a legal practitioner, human rights activist, and advocate for the rule of law, I have closely observed the recent actions of the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, in compensating innocent Nigerians who were wrongly arrested, unlawfully detained, or otherwise affected during security operations.
This is a bold, commendable, and unprecedented gesture that deserves national recognition. It demonstrates that while security agencies have a constitutional responsibility to protect the nation, they also have a moral and legal obligation to acknowledge mistakes and provide remedies to innocent citizens whose rights have been violated.
The fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality is a national priority. However, the pursuit of security must never come at the expense of justice. National security and respect for fundamental human rights are not opposing ideals; they are complementary principles that strengthen one another. A security institution that respects the rule of law earns greater public confidence, cooperation, and credibility.
The recent compensation initiative by the DSS is evidence that institutions can correct their errors without compromising their operational effectiveness. On the contrary, such accountability enhances public trust and demonstrates that no authority is above the law.
Among the beneficiaries of this commendable initiative are:
* Nura Idris, a Kaduna-based farmer and herder who was wrongfully linked to Boko Haram and was awarded ₦3 million.
* Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo, who were mistakenly arrested and detained over allegations of banditry and kidnapping and later shared a compensation package.
* Chineze Ozoadibe, an Abuja-based businesswoman who was wrongfully arrested over allegations of oil bunkering and was awarded ₦10 million.
* A Sokoto-based trader, who was mistakenly shot during a 2016 security operation in Jos, received ₦20 million, comprising court-awarded damages and an additional goodwill payment, together with lifetime free healthcare.
* Eleven artisans from Osun State, including Mohammed Adamu, Adamu Abubakar, Mohammed Bindi, and Baba Kura Mallam, who were eventually cleared of terrorism-related allegations and compensated.
These are only a few publicly known examples. There may be many more deserving victims whose stories have never reached the public domain.
Wrongful arrest and unlawful detention inflict profound harm. Victims often lose their liberty, employment, businesses, reputation, and peace of mind. Their families equally suffer emotional and financial hardship. In some cases, the stigma associated with being falsely accused continues long after their innocence has been established.
Although monetary compensation can never fully restore lost time, damaged reputations, or emotional trauma, it is an important acknowledgment that an injustice has occurred and that the State is willing to accept responsibility for its actions.
I therefore urge every security agency in Nigeria—including the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other law enforcement institutions—to adopt similar measures whenever investigations establish that innocent citizens have been wrongly arrested, unlawfully detained, or injured during official operations.
Beyond compensation, there is an urgent need to prevent such incidents from occurring in the first place. Prevention is always better than remedy. Security agencies should therefore strengthen their operational procedures by adopting the following measures:
* Ensure that arrests are based on credible intelligence, verified evidence, and thorough investigations rather than mere suspicion, rumours, anonymous allegations, or unreliable informants.
* Conduct proper identity verification before arresting suspects, particularly in terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry investigations where mistaken identity is common.
* Subject intelligence reports to supervisory review before authorising high-risk arrests or detention.
* Improve intelligence gathering through technology, forensic analysis, and inter-agency collaboration instead of relying solely on confessional statements or unverified information.
* Provide continuous human rights and constitutional law training for security personnel, particularly on the legal standards governing arrest, detention, and the treatment of suspects.
* Ensure strict compliance with constitutional safeguards, including informing suspects of the reasons for their arrest, granting prompt access to legal representation, and producing them before a court within the time prescribed by law.
* Establish independent internal review mechanisms to promptly investigate complaints of wrongful arrest, unlawful detention, and abuse of power.
* Hold officers accountable where investigations reveal negligence, recklessness, bad faith, or abuse of authority that resulted in the violation of innocent citizens’ rights.
Professionalism demands caution before depriving any citizen of liberty. An arrest should never be treated as punishment, and detention should never become a substitute for proper investigation. Every officer should remember that once an innocent person’s liberty is taken away, no amount of compensation can fully restore the lost time, dignity, opportunities, and emotional well-being.
A justice system that readily admits and corrects its mistakes is stronger than one that refuses to acknowledge them. Transparency and accountability should never be viewed as signs of institutional weakness; rather, they are hallmarks of professionalism and democratic governance.
I commend the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, for demonstrating exceptional leadership, fairness, and respect for the rule of law. His actions have set a commendable precedent for security institutions across Nigeria.
It is my sincere hope that this initiative marks the beginning of a new era in which every Nigerian security agency embraces accountability, respects constitutional rights, and ensures that innocent citizens who suffer from wrongful arrest, unlawful detention, or operational errors are not left without justice or appropriate compensation.
The true measure of a nation’s justice system is not merely its ability to punish the guilty, but also its willingness to protect the innocent and to correct its own mistakes whenever they occur.
_Hamza N. Dantani Esq, Human rights Activist_
