Lawyer urges Police, Army, EFCC to adopt DSS compensation for wrongful arrests
Legal practitioner Hamza Dantani urged Nigeria’s Police, Army and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to review their compensation policies and adopt the Department of State Services’ (DSS) model for compensating innocent citizens who are wrongfully arrested, detained or harmed during security operations. He made the call in a statement issued on August 4, 2026, stressing that security agencies have a constitutional, legal and moral duty to acknowledge mistakes and provide redress when rights are violated. Dantani emphasized that fighting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes must stay within the law and respect fundamental human rights, noting that national security and respect for rights reinforce each other. He warned that an arrest should never be treated as punishment and detention should never replace proper investigation.
This matters because innocent Nigerians often suffer loss of liberty, livelihood and trauma without recourse, eroding public trust in security forces. Adopting a clear compensation framework could deter abuses, ensure accountability and provide victims with a path to restitution, strengthening the rule of law.
Citizens should know they can demand redress if unlawfully detained and encourage security agencies to adopt transparent compensation procedures similar to the DSS’s. Authorities are urged to publish clear guidelines and establish accessible claim processes.