DSS Releases Katsina Carpenter Mistaken for Criminal, Awards N3m Compensation

A carpenter who was caught in a terrorism investigation has regained his freedom after the DSS cleared him of any link to Ansaru and awarded him N3 million in compensation.

Mustapha Marwana, a Katsina-born carpenter, was released by the DSS after an investigation found no evidence linking him to Ansaru or the financing of any terrorist group. The DSS also awarded him N3 million as compensation following his wrongful arrest over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.

A Katsina-born carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) after an investigation cleared him of alleged links to the Ansaru terrorist group. The agency also awarded him N3 million as compensation for his wrongful detention.

Marwana was arrested over alleged connections to the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

According to a DSS source who spoke to TheCable, Marwana was released on the directive of the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, after investigations found no evidence linking him to the membership or financing of any terrorist organisation.

The carpenter was subsequently awarded N3 million to compensate him for the ordeal.

Why DSS Arrested Marwana

Marwana had reportedly been arrested as part of investigations into the abduction of pupils and teachers in the Ogbomoso axis of Oyo State.

The incident occurred on May 15, when gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire LGA and abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the principal of one of the affected schools.

Days after the attack, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the kidnappers.

The mass abduction sparked public outrage, with social media campaigns and protests mounted to demand the release of the victims.

The abducted teachers and schoolchildren were eventually released on July 10.

Three Men Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

The development came after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced three men to life imprisonment over the kidnapping of students and teachers at a school in Oriire LGA.

The convicts are Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.

They were arraigned on an 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.

While the court proceedings continued, Marwana was separately investigated over alleged links to the terrorist network.

However, the DSS later determined that there was no evidence to establish his membership or financing of a terrorist group.

DSS Compensation for Wrongful Detention

Marwana’s case is the latest in a series of cases in which the DSS has released individuals after investigations found insufficient evidence against them and approved compensation.

In June, the agency released Nura Idris after an internal review cleared him of alleged links to Boko Haram insurgents. The DSS Director-General also approved N3 million in compensation to help Idris rebuild his life.

In November 2025, the DSS released Kenneth Nwafor, who had been wrongly accused of belonging to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). He was awarded N5 million.

Similarly, in October 2025, Chineze Ozoadibe, an Abuja-based businesswoman, was released after she had been arrested by another security agency over alleged involvement in illegal bunkering and transferred to the DSS.

She was awarded N10 million in compensation.

The latest case involving Marwana highlights the importance of thorough investigations in terrorism-related cases, where wrongful allegations can have serious consequences for suspects and their families.