The Department of State Services (DSS) has released a Katsina-born carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, after an internal investigation cleared him of alleged links to terrorism and the Ansaru group.

Marwana was also granted N3 million in initial compensation following the review of his case, with the payment intended to help him address immediate needs and resume his livelihood.

A security source said the decision followed the findings of a DSS investigation panel, which determined that Marwana was neither a member of a terrorist organisation nor involved operationally with Ansaru.

The carpenter was arrested in connection with investigations into the abduction and killing of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

According to the source, investigators examined the extent of Marwana’s possible involvement and found no evidence connecting him with the terrorist group’s membership, financing, logistics or operations.

Following the findings, DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi directed that Marwana be released immediately and approved the initial compensation.

Marwana was subsequently handed over to his lawyer, Oghene Forgive, after being discharged from custody.

The source said the freed man thanked the DSS leadership for what he regarded as a compassionate intervention, adding that the development had given him an opportunity to rebuild his life.

Forgive also commended Ajayi for his role in reviewing the case and ensuring that his client’s innocence was established.

The DSS said the compensation was part of a broader approach by its current leadership to assist individuals who are cleared following investigations and help them return to normal life.

The source cited previous cases as examples of the policy.

In one instance, a Sokoto-based businessman received N20 million after he was accidentally shot and injured during a pre-dawn security operation in Jos, Plateau State, in 2016. The incident was reportedly the result of mistaken identity.

In October 2025, the DSS also released an Abuja-based businesswoman, Chineze Ozoadibe, after a review of her case and awarded her N10 million in compensation.

The source said more than N300 million had been paid as compensation in various cases since Ajayi became DSS director-general.

It added that the agency was seeking to combine its national security responsibilities with respect for citizens’ rights and dignity.

The source said cases in which investigations establish the innocence of suspects were increasingly being followed by measures aimed at supporting their reintegration, describing the approach as part of efforts to improve public confidence in the Service.