Lawyer Urges Police, EFCC, Army to Adopt DSS Compensation Policy for Wrongful Arrests

By Iyojo Ameh

A legal practitioner and human rights advocate, Hamza Dantani, has called on Nigeria’s security and law enforcement agencies to emulate the Department of State Services (DSS) by establishing compensation schemes for innocent citizens who are wrongly arrested, unlawfully detained or harmed during security operations.

Dantani made the appeal while commending the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, for introducing a compensation policy for victims of wrongful arrests and operational errors, describing the initiative as a significant step toward promoting accountability and public trust within Nigeria’s security system.

In a statement titled “DSS Compensation Initiative Sets Standard for Security Agencies,” Dantani said the policy demonstrated that security institutions could acknowledge mistakes without compromising their operational effectiveness.

He argued that agencies entrusted with safeguarding the nation also have constitutional, legal and moral obligations to provide remedies for innocent citizens whose rights are violated during the course of their duties.

“This is a bold, commendable and unprecedented gesture that deserves national recognition,” he said, adding that accountability enhances rather than weakens public confidence in security institutions.

The lawyer stressed that while combating terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes remains a national priority, such efforts must always be conducted within the confines of the law and with full respect for fundamental human rights.

“The pursuit of security must never come at the expense of justice. National security and respect for fundamental human rights are complementary principles that strengthen one another,” he stated.

Dantani noted that the DSS had shown that public institutions could admit operational mistakes, compensate victims and still retain the confidence of the public.

To support his position, he cited several individuals who reportedly benefited from the DSS compensation policy. They include Kaduna-based farmer and herder Nura Idris, who allegedly received ₦3 million after being wrongly linked to Boko Haram activities; Abuja businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe, who was awarded ₦10 million following her wrongful arrest over alleged oil bunkering; and a Sokoto-based trader who reportedly received ₦20 million alongside lifetime medical care after being mistakenly shot during a security operation in Jos in 2016.

He also referenced Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu and Jaja Sarki Bamo, who reportedly shared a compensation package after being wrongfully arrested over allegations of banditry and kidnapping, as well as 11 artisans from Osun State who were exonerated of terrorism-related allegations and compensated.

According to Dantani, wrongful arrests and unlawful detention often leave victims with severe financial losses, emotional trauma and lasting reputational damage.

Although financial compensation cannot completely erase such experiences, he said it serves as an important acknowledgment that an injustice occurred and that the state is prepared to accept responsibility.

He urged the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security agencies to institutionalise compensation mechanisms for innocent citizens found to have been wrongfully arrested, detained or injured during official operations.

The human rights advocate also called for broader reforms to reduce incidents of wrongful arrests, including improved intelligence gathering, stronger identity verification processes, enhanced forensic investigations, closer inter-agency collaboration, regular human rights training for security personnel and independent complaint review mechanisms.

“An arrest should never be treated as punishment, and detention should never become a substitute for proper investigation,” Dantani said.

He concluded by praising the DSS leadership for setting what he described as a new benchmark for accountability within Nigeria’s security sector, expressing hope that the initiative would inspire similar reforms across other law enforcement agencies and strengthen respect for constitutional rights and justice.

“The true test of any justice system lies not only in its ability to punish offenders but also in its willingness to protect the innocent and correct its mistakes whenever they occur,” he added.