The Department of State Services has released a carpenter, Mustapha Marwana, who was arrested over the abduction and killing of pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State.

The Director-General of the service, Tosin Ajayi, ordered his release after investigators cleared him of any link to the attack.

A security source who is privy to the case but wished to remain anonymous said a DSS panel carried out a thorough probe into Marwana’s alleged involvement in the incident 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 his livelihood.

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

The source said Marwana thanked the DG for what he described as a compassionate and humane intervention.

Forgive, who received Marwana upon his release, also thanked the DG for his generosity and dedication to establishing his client’s innocence.

The compensation, according to the source, is part of measures being adopted by the current DSS leadership to support persons cleared after investigations and to facilitate their reintegration into society.

It was gathered that the DG had, in 2016, handed a N20m compensation to a Sokoto-based businessman who was accidentally shot and injured during a pre-dawn raid in Jos due to mistaken identity.

The source also recalled the case of an Abuja-based businesswoman, Chineze Ozoadibe, whom the DG ordered released and paid N10m as compensation in October 2025 after reviewing her case.

“Since his appointment as DSS DG, Ajayi has been balancing national security responsibilities with respect for the rights and dignity of citizens, resulting in the payment of over N300m as compensation.

“There are many more instances where DSS investigations have established innocence and have been followed by efforts to facilitate reintegration. These are the kind of measures through which the Service is strengthening public confidence and building trust,” the source added.

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.

Since then, security agencies have arraigned several suspects linked to the attack 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.

Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilantes and hunters, have rescued all 16 persons abducted by suspected kidnappers in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The Army disclosed this in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, on Monday.

According to the statement, the victims were abducted on Sunday, August 9, 2026, when armed criminals attacked commuters along the Ojuwo–Ajengo–Memarebo and Ojiwo–Itobe roads in the area.

The Army said troops of 21 Battalion and personnel of the Nigerian Navy Ship Lugard launched a joint search and rescue operation after receiving intelligence that the victims had been moved to the vicinity of Adumu Community in Dekina Local Government Area.

The operation also involved personnel of the police, vigilantes and local hunters.

“During the operation, the joint security team established contact with the fleeing kidnappers and engaged them in a fierce firefight.

“Overwhelmed by the superior firepower and coordinated assault of the security forces, the criminals abandoned all their captives and escaped into the surrounding forest with gunshot wounds,” the statement said.

The Army said all 16 victims were subsequently rescued, comprising six adult males, six adult females and four children.

It added that the rescued victims were undergoing documentation and medical assessment before being reunited with their families.

However, one local hunter who participated in the operation was killed during the encounter, while a police officer sustained injuries and was receiving medical treatment.

The Army commended the security personnel and local stakeholders involved in the operation, describing their efforts as a demonstration of the effectiveness of joint operations in tackling kidnapping and other violent crimes.

“The successful rescue of the 16 victims underscores the effectiveness of sustained joint operations and the synergy among the Nigerian Army, sister security agencies and local security stakeholders in combating kidnapping and other violent crimes,” the statement said.

The Army also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information on suspicious activities.

It said public cooperation remained critical to ongoing efforts to protect lives and restore peace across the country.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Project WISE Team, in collaboration with the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), the Nigeria Police Force, and Military Personnel, conducted a follow-up monitoring exercise on Monday, 10th August 2026, across locations previously visited during the joint enforcement operation to dislodge illegal traders.

The exercise covered Ketu, Ile-Ile, Mile 12, Erunkan, Owode Elede, Owode Onirin, Ogolonto, Agric, and Ikorodu, as part of ongoing efforts to sustain the gains of the initial operation and ensure that cleared areas remained free of reoccupation.

The purpose of the revisit was to monitor the locations and assess the level of compliance with the directives issued during the previous operation.

The team inspected the affected areas to ascertain whether illegal traders had returned to the cleared walkways and unauthorised spaces, and to ensure that environmental order had been maintained. During the exercise, some illegal traders who had violated the directives were dislodged, while several offenders were arrested for obstructing efforts to maintain order and environmental cleanliness.

The monitoring exercise is part of the State Government’s broader strategy to prevent reoccupation of cleared areas and ensure continuous compliance with environmental regulations. The multi-agency collaboration reflects the government’s commitment to reclaiming public spaces and ensuring that all residents and businesses adhere to the laws governing environmental sanitation and public order.

The Authority reaffirmed that further monitoring would be sustained across the identified locations to ensure that compliance is maintained and that any form of encroachment, illegal trading, or reoccupation is promptly addressed. Residents and traders have been urged to patronise designated markets and avoid the use of walkways, medians, and other public spaces for trading or storage of goods.