DSS DG Orders Release of Suspected IPOB Member Detained Since 2022
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor, a man who had been in the agency’s custody since 2022 over allegations of involvement with the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
His release follows a fresh review of his case, during which investigators reportedly found no evidence linking him to the accusations that led to his detention more than two years ago.
Nwafor was arrested in July 2022 during earlier security operations targeting individuals suspected of affiliation with IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
According to security sources, the new DSS leadership reopened several inherited files and discovered gaps in the evidence used to detain him. The findings prompted the DG to order his immediate release, alongside a compensation package of ₦5 million and access to free medical care to support his reintegration.
The development is part of a broader reform initiative within the DSS, as Ajayi has reportedly directed a comprehensive review of all pending or unresolved cases handed over to him.
The aim, according to insiders, is to correct “procedural and investigative irregularities” and ensure the agency’s operations align with constitutional standards.
In recent weeks, several other individuals previously held on suspicion of IPOB ties—including three men identified as Udemba, Onyedikachi, and Eze—have also regained their freedom after similar reviews.
Human rights advocates have welcomed the decision, describing it as a positive shift toward accountability and transparency within Nigeria’s internal security establishment.
The move also follows other high-profile interventions by the DSS DG, including the payment of enhanced compensation to a businessman in Jos who was shot by security operatives earlier in the year.
The release of long-held detainees is viewed as significant in the context of the ongoing tensions surrounding IPOB-related arrests.
Families of many suspects have long accused the agency of detaining individuals without trial, while rights organisations have repeatedly called for case-by-case assessments to ensure no innocent person remains in custody.
As the DSS continues its internal review, more cases are expected to be revisited in the coming months. For Nwafor, the decision marks the end of a prolonged ordeal and the beginning of efforts to rebuild his life after more than two years in detention.
