In a notable gesture of accountability and compassion, the Department of State Services (DSS) has formally invited a Sokoto-based businessman mistakenly shot during a security operation in 2016 to its medical facility in Abuja, providing him with comprehensive and free healthcare services.
The businessman, whose identity has been withheld for privacy, became a victim of mistaken identity during a pre-dawn raid conducted by DSS operatives in Jos, Plateau State. The mission, which aimed to apprehend a suspected arms dealer, took a tragic turn when agents mistakenly shot the innocent man who shared the same name as the target.
Though the actual suspect was eventually captured, the injured businessman suffered long-term physical and emotional trauma. Two years later, in 2018, he pursued justice through the legal system. Represented by his lawyer, Idris Akibu, he filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Bauchi. After reviewing the circumstances of the case, Justice Muhammed Shittu Abubakar ruled in favor of the businessman and ordered the DSS to pay N10 million in damages.
Despite the court judgment, it took another six years before the compensation was implemented. In a significant move to right past wrongs, current DSS Director-General Mr. Tosin Ajayi, who assumed office after two other DGs had served since the incident, approved the payment of the court-ordered damages in March 2025. He also authorized an additional N10 million as a gesture of goodwill, bringing the total compensation to N20 million.
Beyond financial redress, the DSS Chief instructed that the victim be permanently enrolled in the agency’s medical care system. This would allow him to receive free, quality healthcare services for life at any DSS facility.
A senior DSS official confirmed that the businessman recently arrived at the DSS hospital in Abuja, where he was immediately admitted to the VIP ward. “He’s been undergoing a comprehensive series of tests and receiving care from some of our best medical personnel,” the source stated. “Everything, including his meals and treatment, is being fully covered by the Service, as directed by the DG.”
The source also noted that the agency’s current leadership aims to demonstrate that security institutions in Nigeria can be not only law-abiding but also empathetic. “This is a significant shift,” he said. “By following through on the court’s ruling and going the extra mile, we are setting a precedent for responsible governance and institutional humanity.”
The DSS has not issued an official public statement, but sources say the initiative is part of a broader push by the new DG to rebuild public trust and improve internal accountability within the security agency.
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