Mustapha Marwana, a Katsina-born carpenter, receives N3 million after investigators cleared him of any ties to Ansaru.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Mustapha Marwana, a Katsina-born carpenter who was arrested over alleged links to the Ansaru terrorist group and awarded him N3 million in compensation.
Marwana was arrested in connection with the abduction and killing of pupils and teachers at schools in Oriire local government area, in the Ogbomoso axis of Oyo State.
A DSS source confirmed to TheCable that his release followed a directive from Director-General Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, after an investigation panel cleared him of membership, financing, logistics or operational involvement with the terrorist group.
Why the DSS released and compensated Marwana
“Following the review, investigators found no evidence linking the carpenter to membership, financing, logistics or operational activities of the terrorist group,” a security source said.
“Consequently, the DSS DG ordered his immediate release and approved the payment of initial N3 million as compensation to assist him in meeting his immediate needs and restarting livelihood.”
Marwana was subsequently released to his lawyer, Oghene Forgive, who received him following his discharge from custody. According to the source, Marwana expressed appreciation to the DG for what he described as a compassionate and humane intervention, saying the gesture had given him an opportunity to rebuild his life.
What happened to the convicted Oriire kidnappers
In July, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced three men to life imprisonment over the kidnapping of pupils and teachers at schools in Oriire, after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges.
The convicts, 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, had been arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that their sentences take effect from the dates of their arrest. The three, all from Suleja local government area of Niger State, were separately accused of concealing information about Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, alleged to be the masterminds behind the kidnapping, who remain at large.
On 15 May, gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire and abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers, including the principal of one of the affected schools.
Days later, the abductors killed Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers. The abduction sparked outrage on social media and triggered protests demanding the victims’ release. On 10 July, the abducted teachers and schoolchildren were released.
DSS’s ongoing compensation scheme
Marwana’s case is the latest under a DSS compensation programme for individuals wrongfully linked to terrorism or other serious allegations. In June, the DSS released Nura Idris, a Kaduna-based farmer wrongfully linked to Boko Haram, with a N3 million compensation package.
In November 2025, it released and paid N5 million to Kenneth Nwafor, wrongfully accused of IPOB membership. In October 2025, the service released Abuja-based businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe, wrongfully arrested over alleged illegal bunkering, and paid her N10 million.
According to a security source, more than 30 cases have been reviewed under the initiative so far, with over N300 million paid in compensation since Ajayi’s appointment as DG.
