Four men previously detained over suspected involvement with the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra have been set free by the Department of State Services, which also cleared them and approved a compensation package of N20m.
The secret service agency said each of the men would receive N5m after investigations cleared them of the allegations.
The four men are Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry.
A statement by DSS said they were arrested in May 2022 in Sampou and Akeddei communities in Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State.
“The Agency established that they had been misled into believing that they would each receive a monthly payment of N100,000 under the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme, not knowing that they were being lured by a group of IPOB members who are now facing trial,” the statement said.
The suspects’ lawyer, Deji Adeyanju of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, commended the service for its efforts towards safeguarding national security and respecting human rights.
He also praised the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, for what he described as his genuine commitment to upholding human rights.
Speaking on behalf of the released men, Ibe described the day as the happiest of his life, saying the experience had taught him a valuable lesson he would share with others.
The statement recalled that Ajayi, upon assuming office in 2024, ordered a review of more than 300 inherited terrorism-related cases.
It said the exercise had reduced the number of suspects held in the agency’s facility to about 100 following investigations, while more than N1bn had been paid in compensation.
What You Should Know
The Department of State Services has released four individuals—Emele Uduma Ibe, Berefgagha Appah, Ondokeyilemi Aggry, and Oyeinmokebebeton Aggry—who were arrested in May 2022 in Bayelsa State. Investigations revealed they were falsely lured by IPOB members with false promises of monthly stipends under a federal amnesty program. Each cleared detainee will receive N5m as compensation.
- Positive Impact: This move highlights the current leadership’s commitment under the DSS Director-General to review inherited terrorism cases, respect human rights, and compensate wrongfully detained citizens.
- Potential Concerns: The incident underscores the risks of vulnerable citizens being misled by separatist groups, highlighting the need for stronger community awareness and security vigilance.
