DSS releases three men wrongfully detained over killing of Fulani herders

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released three men wrongfully detained over their alleged involvement in the killing of seven Fulani cattle herders.

The trio—Augustine Udemba, Nelson Onyedikachi Udemba, and Ifesinachi Eze—were accused of being members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which authorities claim was behind the killings.

In a post on social media, Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer, said the men were released on Tuesday and have since been reunited with their families.

Adeyanju, who facilitated their release, said the DSS is currently reviewing over 20 cases involving individuals believed to have been wrongfully detained.

He linked the development to ongoing reforms led by Oluwatosin Ajayi, director-general of the secret police.

He said the reforms are aimed at repositioning the service to align with the rule of law, including reviewing all cases, charging suspects in court where necessary, and releasing those held without basis.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

The latest release comes weeks after the DSS freed 11 individuals arrested in Osun over terrorism-related allegations.

The victims were also compensated with undisclosed sums running into millions of naira.

In another case, Abdulyakini Salisu, a quarry operator arrested in 2022 along the Zuba-Kaduna expressway, was freed after a review revealed he was wrongly identified.

Salisu was awarded N10 million in compensation and granted lifetime access to medical care at the DSS facility.

Back in May, the DSS also paid N20 million to a Sokoto-based businessman who was mistakenly shot by its operatives during a 2016 operation in Jos, Plateau state.