Nigeria: DSS Releases, Compensates Artisan Cleared of Links With Terrorists

What the report says

The Department of State Services (DSS) in Nigeria has released Mustapha Marwana, a carpenter from Katsina, after an internal investigation cleared him of allegations tied to terrorist activity. The report, published by This Day and distributed by AllAfrica, says the agency’s director-general ordered his discharge after a panel reviewed the case and found no evidence that Marwana belonged to any terrorist group or had operational ties to Ansaru.

According to the article, Marwana had been arrested in connection with the abduction and killing of school pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The investigation reportedly found no proof that he was involved in the group’s membership, financing, logistics or operations. After being cleared, he was released to his lawyer.

The DSS also compensated Marwana with an initial payment of N3 million to help cover immediate needs and support his return to work, the report says. The article presents this as part of a wider pattern under the current DSS leadership of compensating people who are found not to have been involved in wrongdoing after investigations. As general background, such moves can be seen as an effort by security agencies to rebuild public trust while balancing counterterrorism work with due process and rights protections.