SSS Nigeria: Compensates Mustapha Marwana for Wrongful Detention

• The State Security Service (SSS) has freed and compensated Mustapha Marwana, who was wrongly detained for an alleged role in the abduction of 46 pupils and seven teachers in Oyo State.
• An SSS investigation panel found no evidence linking Mr. Marwana to the Ansaru terror group or the May 15 abduction, leading Director General Adeola Ajayi to order his immediate release.
• Mr. Marwana received an initial N3 million in compensation from the SSS to help him restart his life, and was released to his lawyer, Oghene Forgive.
• The SSS has paid over N300 million in compensation for human rights cases since DG Adeola Ajayi's appointment, including N20 million to a Sokoto businessman and N10 million to Abuja businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe in October 2025.

Since the appointment of Adeola Ajayi as its Director-General, the SSS has reportedly prioritized and resolved numerous human rights cases, resulting in the disbursement of over N300 million in compensation payments.

The State Security Service (SSS) recently announced the release and compensation of Mustapha Marwana, a man who had been wrongfully detained in connection with the abduction of 46 schoolchildren and seven teachers from three institutions in Oyo State. Mr. Marwana, a carpenter, was initially linked to the Ansaru terror group following his arrest in relation to the incident in Oriire Local Government Area. However, a subsequent investigation by an SSS panel found no evidence to substantiate these claims.

Following the panel's findings, which definitively established that the Katsina-born Mustapha Marwana was neither a member of any terrorist organization nor had operational links with the Ansaru group, SSS Director General Adeola Ajayi ordered his immediate release. The SSS media unit confirmed these developments in a press statement issued on Tuesday. It was clarified that despite his arrest and thorough investigation into his alleged involvement, Mr. Marwana was never named in any of the charges brought against other individuals connected to the abduction.

In a move signaling a potential shift in the agency's approach, the SSS not only freed Mr. Marwana but also approved an initial payment of N3 million as compensation. This sum is intended to assist him in addressing immediate needs and re-establishing his livelihood after his wrongful detention. Mr. Marwana was released into the custody of his lawyer, Oghene Forgive, and reportedly expressed gratitude to the Director General for his compassionate intervention, a sentiment echoed by Mr. Forgive, who commended the SSS boss for his dedication to proving his client's innocence.

The incident that led to Mr. Marwana's wrongful arrest involved a terror attack on May 15, during which assailants invaded three schools in Oriire LGA, Oyo State, kidnapping 46 pupils and seven teachers. Tragically, one teacher was killed at the scene, and another died while in captivity. Initial reports regarding the perpetrators were varied; a few days after the abduction, the Defence Headquarters identified the attackers as Boko Haram members.

However, President Bola Tinubu later attributed the abduction to the Ansaru terror group, stating that the group had demanded the release of its arrested leaders as a condition for freeing the kidnapped victims. The federal government, however, made no concessions, instead securing the captives' freedom through targeted security operations nearly 60 days after their abduction. Subsequently, three men, including two Ansaru leaders who were already in custody, were charged and sentenced by the federal government in connection with the incident, none of whom included Mustapha Marwana.

The compensation paid to Mustapha Marwana forms part of a broader initiative by the current SSS leadership to support individuals cleared after investigations and facilitate their reintegration into society. Since the appointment of Adeola Ajayi as its Director-General, the SSS has reportedly prioritized and resolved numerous human rights cases, resulting in the disbursement of over N300 million in compensation payments. This demonstrates a notable commitment to addressing past grievances and upholding human rights within the agency.

This commitment is further evidenced by other documented instances of State Security Service compensation in Nigeria. For example, a Sokoto-based businessman received N20 million in 2016 after being accidentally shot and injured during a pre-dawn raid in Jos, Plateau State, where he was mistaken for another person. More recently, in October 2025, an Abuja-based businesswoman, Chineze Ozoadibe, was released and awarded N10 million in compensation following a review of her case. These cases, alongside the SSS compensating Mustapha Marwana for his wrongful detention, underscore a developing policy aimed at providing redress for those adversely affected by the service's operations.

Lawyers representing clients who believe they have been wrongly detained by the SSS should note the precedent of compensation payments, indicating a potential shift in the SSS's approach to human rights and offering a basis for pursuing similar claims for redress.

Source: Original reporting via Premium Times