By SUNTV Global Channel | Africa News Coverage
June 27, 2026
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a Kaduna-based herder, Nura Idris, after an internal investigation reportedly cleared him of allegations linking him to the Boko Haram terrorist group.
The DSS also awarded Idris ₦3 million in immediate financial assistance to support his reintegration into society and pledged to help him rebuild his livestock business.
According to security sources, Idris, a farmer and cattle rearer from Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was arrested in June 2024 in Suleja, Niger State, by another security agency over suspected terrorist links before he was transferred to the DSS for further investigation.
However, following a comprehensive review, the DSS said investigators found no evidence connecting him to terrorism. The agency subsequently ordered his immediate release and approved the compensation package.
Speaking after his release, Idris expressed appreciation to the DSS, saying the financial support would help him rebuild his life and restore his means of livelihood.
The release is part of an ongoing internal review initiated by the DSS to reassess inherited and prolonged detention cases, with the aim of ensuring that individuals wrongfully detained are identified and released.
According to sources, the review has so far examined more than 30 detention cases, leading to the release of several individuals found to have been wrongly held.
Among the cases cited was that of Sunday Ifedi, who was arrested alongside his wife, Calista Ifedi, in November 2021 over alleged links to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Following a review, Ifedi was released in December 2025 and reportedly received ₦10 million in compensation after investigators found no evidence to support the allegations against him.
Sources also disclosed that the DSS is making arrangements to rebuild a restaurant in memory of Calista Ifedi, who died while in detention, as part of efforts to compensate the family.
In addition, Abuja-based businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe, Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, and five other detainees previously cleared of alleged IPOB links were reportedly released and compensated under the same review initiative.
Last month, the DSS also released Ya’u Mohammed, a resident of Yobe State, after investigations reportedly cleared him of terrorism-related allegations. He was provided with ₦2 million in financial assistance to support his reintegration and livelihood.
The DSS says the review exercise reflects its commitment to ensuring that justice is served and that individuals wrongfully detained are released after thorough investigations establish their innocence.
