A legal practitioner, Mr Aminu Dantani, has called on Nigeria’s security agencies to adopt compensation policies for victims of wrongful arrests and operational errors, describing the Department of State Services (DSS) initiative as a model for institutional accountability and human rights protection.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dantani made the appeal in a statement titled “DSS Compensation Initiative Sets Standard for Security Agencies,” issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
He commended the Director General of the DSS, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, for introducing the compensation policy, saying it reflects the agency’s commitment to justice, accountability and the protection of fundamental human rights.
Dantani highlighted several cases where innocent Nigerians received compensation after being wrongly implicated in criminal activities. He cited Kaduna based farmer and herder, Mr Nura Idris, who received N3 million after being wrongly linked to Boko Haram, and Abuja businesswoman, Mrs Chineze Ozoadibe, who was awarded N10 million following her wrongful arrest over alleged oil bunkering.
He also referenced a Sokoto trader who received N20 million and lifetime medical care after he was mistakenly shot during a security operation in Jos in 2016, as well as other beneficiaries who were cleared of allegations of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism before receiving compensation.
The lawyer said wrongful arrests and unlawful detention often result in financial losses, emotional trauma and reputational damage, stressing that while compensation cannot erase the suffering, it represents an important acknowledgment of injustice and the state’s willingness to take responsibility.
He maintained that the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping must be conducted within the framework of the law, insisting that national security and respect for fundamental human rights are complementary rather than conflicting objectives.
Dantani urged the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to establish similar compensation frameworks and strengthen intelligence gathering, forensic investigations, identity verification, human rights training and independent complaint review mechanisms.
He stressed that arrest should never be treated as punishment, adding that the credibility of the justice system depends not only on punishing offenders but also on protecting innocent citizens and correcting institutional mistakes.
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