Justice Served! Man Shot By DSS Operative Awarded ₦20 Million Compensation

A businessman from Sokoto who was mistakenly shot during a Department of State Services (DSS) operation has received a compensation package of ₦20 million.

As part of its efforts to support the victim’s recovery, the DSS has also extended an invitation for him to access free medical care at its hospital in Abuja.

According to Naija News, the compensation includes ₦10 million awarded by a Federal High Court six years ago, which was approved for disbursement by the DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, in March. To further acknowledge the delay, Ajayi authorized an additional ₦10 million, bringing the total payout to ₦20 million.

In addition, the DSS chief directed that the businessman be fully integrated into the agency’s medical care system, granting him ongoing access to complimentary treatment.

A security source revealed to Vanguard that the victim recently checked into the DSS hospital and has since been receiving thorough medical attention from top specialists. “He was admitted to the VIP ward, which is fully air-conditioned, and has been undergoing a series of diagnostic tests. Medical staff are attending to him 24/7 to ensure he regains full mobility. It’s even been reported that the DG instructed he be fed at no cost,” the source said.

The incident dates back to 2016, when DSS operatives, during a pre-dawn raid in Jos, Plateau State, targeted a suspected gunrunner. In the process, they mistakenly shot the Sokoto businessman, who happened to share the same name as the suspect. Although the actual gunrunner was later captured, the victim sustained injuries that prompted a legal suit.

Two years after the shooting, in 2018, the businessman—represented by his lawyer, Idris Akibu—filed a case at the Federal High Court in Bauchi.