The Department of State Services on Tuesday released three persons detained on suspicion of belonging to the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), and involvement in the killing of seven Fulani cattle herders.

The service is also reviewing more than 20 cases of individuals believed to have been wrongfully detained, as part of the reforms being introduced by the new Director-General of the secret police, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi.

The disclosure was made on Tuesday night by Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, via his verified social media accounts.

Adeyanju said the trio of Augustine Udemba, Nelson Onyedikachi Udemba, and Ifesinachi Eze, who were arrested and wrongfully detained on the allegation of involvement in IPOB/ESN activities and killing of seven herders, were released on Tuesday,” stressing, “they have been reunited with their families.”

The lawyer described the release as part of the ongoing reforms by the new DSS boss to reposition the service and ensure it is compliant with the rule of law, including reviewing the cases of those in custody, charging them to court where necessary, and releasing those wrongfully detained.

He stated, “We are currently working on more than 20 cases with the service and thank the DG of the DSS for his commitment to ensuring the right thing is done,” adding, “we are aware that there are hundreds of Nigerians with similar issues, and we are further appealing to the DG for a speedy process in the ongoing reforms.”

While the lawyer did not state whether compensation would be paid to the released detainees, security sources suggested that, given the DG’s habit of paying compensation to wrongfully detained persons, it was likely that the trio would be compensated.

Just last week, the DSS DG ordered the release of a businessman, Abdulyakini Salisu, who owns a quarry on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, as he has been detained by the service since 2022 on suspicion of kidnapping. He was also awarded N10 million in compensation. It was reported that he might receive more from the DG.

Another notable case involved the payment of N20 million in compensation to a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot in the leg by DSS operatives in 2016. Even after the DSS confirmed that the man was shot accidentally and a court awarded the victim N10 million in damages, two DSS officials refused to pay him. Instead, they appealed the judgement.

The DG has promised to promptly review the case of wrongfully detained persons in DSS custody brought to his attention, saying he wouldn’t mind the source of the information as long as it produces results.