DSS frees and compensates artisan arrested over alleged link to Oyo school kidnapping

The Department of State Services has released a carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, who was wrongly arrested over the  May 15 abd#ction and killing of pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State.

A security source who spoke to Punch, said the Director-General of the service, Tosin Ajayi, ordered Marwana’s release after investigators cleared him of any link to the attack.

The security source said a DSS panel carried out a thorough probe into Marwana’s alleged involvement in the inicident before clearing him.

The panel was said to have found that the Katsina-born artisan was not a member of any terrorist organisation and had no operational ties to the Ansaru terrorist group blamed for the attack.

“Following the review, investigators found no evidence linking the carpenter to membership, financing, logistics or operational activities of the terrorist group. 

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.

Mustapha was subsequently released to his lawyer, Oghene Forgive, who received him following his discharge from custody,” the source said.

Gunmen suspected to be Ansaru terrorists had, on May 15, invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers. Two of the victims were killed before the remaining captives regained their freedom on July 10 following a military operation.

Several suspects linked to the attack have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, with three convicts already sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to terrorism-related charges, while others, including two Ansaru commanders, are standing trial.