Abuja: Human rights lawyer, Mr Hamza Dantani, has urged security agencies nationwide to emulate the Department of State Services (DSS) by compensating innocent citizens who are wrongly arrested, detained, or injured during operations. Dantani made the call in a statement titled ‘DSS Compensation Initiative Sets Standard for Security Agencies,’ issued in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dantani commended the Director-General of the DSS, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, for introducing the policy, describing it as a landmark step toward institutional accountability and the protection of fundamental human rights. He highlighted the human toll of operational errors, referencing the stories of several beneficiaries whose lives were disrupted by wrongful security actions before receiving redress.
Dantani cited several cases to illustrate the importance of the compensation policy. He mentioned Mr Nura Idris, a Kaduna-based farmer and herder, who was wrongly linked to Boko Haram activities but later exonerated and compensated with N3 million. Similarly, Mrs Chineze Ozoadibe, an Abuja-based businesswoman, was awarded N10 million after her wrongful arrest over alleged oil bunkering. Another notable case involved a Sokoto trader who received N20 million and lifetime medical care after being mistakenly shot in a 2016 security operation in Jos.
The lawyer stressed that while financial compensation cannot entirely undo the damage caused by wrongful arrests and unlawful detention, it signifies an acknowledgment of injustice and the state’s willingness to accept responsibility. Dantani also referred to three other beneficiaries, Umar Ibrahim, Bello Rabiu, and Jaja Bamo, who received a compensation package after being cleared of banditry and kidnapping allegations. Additionally, 11 artisans from Osun were exonerated of terrorism-related allegations and compensated by the service.
Dantani emphasized that national security priorities must align with constitutional rights. He stated that while the fight against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping is a national priority, the pursuit of security must not compromise justice. He reiterated that national security and respect for fundamental human rights are complementary principles.
The lawyer urged other security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, to institutionalize similar compensation frameworks. He also called for reforms to prevent operational errors, improve intelligence gathering, enhance forensic investigations, ensure thorough identity verification, provide continuous human rights training for personnel, and establish independent complaint review mechanisms.
Dantani concluded by asserting that arrests should never be treated as punishment, and detention should not substitute proper investigation. He stated that 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.