By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released three men who were wrongfully detained on suspicion of belonging to the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The detainees — Augustine Udemba, Nelson Onyedikachi Udemba, and Ifesinachi Eze — were set free Tuesday night after the DSS concluded a review of their case files. They were reunited with their families on Wednesday.
Their release followed fresh directives by the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, who ordered the review of at least 20 other case files as part of reforms aimed at repositioning the agency.
Confirming the development, human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, commended the DSS for the step, describing it as a move that would rebrand the agency’s image.
“The ongoing reforms by the new DSS boss to reposition the Service, including reviewing the cases of those in custody, charging to court where required and releasing those wrongfully detained, will make it rule of law-compliant,” Adeyanju said.
He added, “We are currently working on more than 20 cases with the service and thank the DG of the DSS for his commitment to ensuring the right thing is done. We are aware that there are hundreds of Nigerians with similar issues, and we are further appealing to the DG for a speedy process in the ongoing reforms.”
A DSS operative, who spoke with Daily Trust, hinted that the freed men may also receive compensation.
“Going by the DG’s habit of paying compensation to wrongfully detained persons, it is most likely the trio would be compensated,” the source said.
He recalled that only last week, a businessman detained since 2022 on suspicion of kidnapping was not only released but also paid ₦10 million compensation.
The operative added that in May, a Jos-based businessman mistakenly shot by DSS operatives in 2016 was paid ₦20 million, including ₦10 million awarded by the court and an additional ₦10 million from the DG, along with free lifetime medical care.
According to him, the DG has promised to speedily review more cases of wrongful detention, regardless of the source of information, as long as it leads to justice.