The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a Katsina-born carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, after an investigation found no evidence linking him to the Ansaru terrorist group or the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
Marwana was taken into custody over alleged connections with the terrorist group following the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, within the Ogbomoso axis of the state.
A source within the secret police revealed that the carpenter was released on the directive of the agency’s Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, after investigations cleared him of membership of, or financial support for, any terrorist organisation.
The agency also awarded Marwana N3 million as compensation following his wrongful detention.
The development comes months after the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire LGA.
On May 15, gunmen attacked the schools and abducted the victims, including the principal of one of the affected institutions. One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed by the kidnappers.
The incident generated widespread outrage and prompted protests and online campaigns calling for the safe release of the victims.
The abducted pupils and teachers were eventually released on July 10.
Three Convicted Over Oyo School Abduction
The abduction case also resulted in the conviction of three men by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court, in July, sentenced Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, to life imprisonment.
The trio had faced a 10-count charge involving terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
DSS Compensation For Wrongful Arrests
Marwana’s case is not the first instance where the DSS has compensated individuals after investigations cleared them of alleged links to terrorist or criminal groups.
