Human rights lawyer Hamza Dantani has called on Nigeria’s security and law enforcement agencies to introduce compensation schemes for innocent people who are wrongly arrested, unlawfully detained or injured during official operations.
He urged agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the EFCC, the NSCDC and the NDLEA to follow the example set by the Department of State Services (DSS), which recently introduced a compensation policy for victims of wrongful arrests and operational mistakes.
In a statement titled “DSS Compensation Initiative Sets Standard for Security Agencies,” Dantani praised the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, describing the policy as a bold move that promotes accountability and strengthens public trust.
According to him, admitting mistakes and compensating innocent victims does not weaken a security agency. Instead, it shows responsibility and builds confidence among citizens.
He stressed that while fighting terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other crimes remains essential, security operations must always respect the law and protect the fundamental rights of innocent people.
“The pursuit of security must never come at the expense of justice,” he said, adding that national security and human rights should work together rather than compete with each other.
To support his argument, Dantani cited several people who reportedly benefited from the DSS compensation policy.
Among them is Kaduna-based farmer and herder Nura Idris, who allegedly received ₦3 million after being wrongly linked to Boko Haram activities. Abuja businesswoman Chineze Ozoadibe reportedly received ₦10 million following her wrongful arrest over alleged oil bunkering.
He also mentioned a trader from Sokoto who was reportedly awarded ₦20 million and lifetime medical care after he was mistakenly shot during a security operation in Jos in 2016.
Others include Umar Ibrahim, Alhaji Bello Rabiu and Jaja Sarki Bamo, who reportedly shared compensation after being wrongly arrested over allegations of kidnapping and banditry. Eleven artisans from Osun State, who were later cleared of terrorism allegations, were also said to have received compensation.
Dantani noted that wrongful arrests often leave victims with huge financial losses, emotional trauma and lasting damage to their reputation.
While compensation cannot erase the pain, he said it sends a powerful message that the government accepts responsibility when innocent citizens suffer because of official mistakes.
Beyond compensation, the lawyer called for broader reforms to reduce wrongful arrests. These include better intelligence gathering, stronger identity verification, improved forensic investigations, closer collaboration among security agencies, regular human rights training for officers and independent systems for handling public complaints.
“An arrest should never be treated as punishment, and detention should never replace proper investigation,” he said.
He concluded by commending the DSS for setting what he described as a new standard for accountability within Nigeria’s security sector, expressing hope that other agencies would adopt similar reforms to strengthen justice, protect constitutional rights and restore public confidence.
“The true test of any justice system,” he added, “is not only its ability to punish offenders but also its willingness to protect the innocent and correct its mistakes whenever they occur.”
