DSS Compensation Initiative Sets Standard for Security Agencies, Says Dantani

A legal practitioner and human rights advocate, Hamza D. Dantani, Esq., is calling on Nigerian security agencies to emulate the Department of State Services (DSS) by compensating innocent citizens who are wrongly arrested, unlawfully detained, or harmed during operations. Dantani praised the DSS Director-General, Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, for what he termed a "bold and unprecedented decision" to compensate victims of wrongful arrests and operational errors. He stated that this initiative shows security agencies can uphold their constitutional duty to protect the nation while also acknowledging mistakes and providing remedies for violated rights. Dantani emphasized that the fight against crime should not compromise justice or fundamental human rights, and the DSS's actions demonstrate that institutions can admit and correct errors without sacrificing effectiveness. This accountability, he believes, strengthens public confidence and reinforces the principle that no authority is above the law. Dantani cited several publicly known beneficiaries of the DSS compensation initiative. These include Nura Idris, a farmer and herder from Kaduna who received ₦3 million after being wrongly linked to Boko Haram. Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Sarki Bamo shared a compensation package after being mistakenly arrested over banditry and kidnapping allegations. Chineze Ozoadibe, a businesswoman from Abuja, was awarded ₦10 million following her wrongful arrest on oil bunkering charges. A trader from Sokoto, mistakenly shot during a 2016 security operation in Jos, received ₦20 million, including court-awarded damages and a goodwill payment, plus lifetime healthcare. Additionally, 11 artisans from Osun State, cleared of terrorism-related allegations, were compensated. Dantani noted these are just a few public cases, suggesting many others may have gone unnoticed. He acknowledged that while monetary compensation cannot fully restore lost time or erase trauma, it serves as a crucial acknowledgment of injustice and the state's acceptance of responsibility. He urged other agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, and EFCC, to adopt similar practices.

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the fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes should not come at the expense of justice and respect for fundamental human rights.