A businessman from Sokoto State who was mistakenly shot by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) has finally received justice after years of struggle. The DSS paid him the N10 million court-ordered compensation and, in an unexpected gesture, its Director-General, Adeola Ajayi, personally added another N10 million to help him rebuild his life.
The ordeal began on April 2, 2016, when DSS operatives raided his residence in Jos, Plateau State, mistaking him for a suspected gunrunner who had the same last name. During the raid, they shot him in the thigh before realizing their mistake.
Despite a 2018 court ruling ordering the DSS to compensate him for violating his fundamental rights, the payment was delayed for years. However, on March 15, 2025, the agency finally fulfilled its obligation. In a surprising turn, Ajayi added another N10 million as a goodwill gesture.
Recounting the traumatic experience, the businessman, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the operatives stormed his apartment at about 4:30 a.m.
“They banged on my neighbors’ doors, asking for someone with my name. When they found me, I told them my full name, but they didn’t believe me. Before I could explain further, they shot me in the thigh,” he said.
After realizing their mistake, the DSS operatives rushed him to the Jos University Teaching Hospital but abandoned him there. Later that day, they arrested the real suspect and transferred him to Abuja.
His troubles, however, were far from over. Due to a doctors’ strike, he was left without proper medical care and was later moved to a military hospital. With mounting medical bills and financial struggles, he relocated with his family to Sokoto State, where life became even more difficult.
Once a successful businessman with over N5 million in business capital, he lost everything, fell into debt, and was eventually evicted from his home. Between 2019 and 2020, he faced further tragedy when two of his young children died from malaria and typhoid—illnesses that could have been prevented with better healthcare.
“My one-year-old daughter passed away in 2019, and in 2020, my six-year-old also died from the same illness,” he recalled with deep sorrow.
Determined to seek justice, he took legal action against the DSS in 2016 with the help of his lawyer, Akibu Idris. In February 2018, the Federal High Court in Bauchi ruled in his favor, ordering the DSS to pay N10 million in damages. However, the agency appealed the ruling, delaying justice even further.
In 2019, the Court of Appeal in Jos dismissed the DSS appeal, ruling in favor of the businessman once again. Despite this, the payment was still not made, forcing Idris to consider filing another lawsuit to enforce the judgment. Instead, he reached out to the Attorney-General’s office, which led to a breakthrough.
After an internal review, the DSS agreed to pay the compensation. In an unexpected move, Ajayi personally contributed an additional N10 million to help the businessman rebuild his life.
A DSS insider confirmed that apart from the financial compensation, the businessman was also given access to the agency’s medical facilities for further treatment.
“He was a victim of mistaken identity, shot in the lower limb to prevent escape during a raid,” the source said. “Medical assessments confirmed that while the wound has healed externally, he still suffers from mobility issues.”
Despite his ongoing health struggles, the businessman is now planning to relocate his family back to Jos and revive his business.
He expressed gratitude to the DSS Director-General, saying, “May Allah bless him. It was my destiny to go through this, but I will never forget the people who stood by me, especially my lawyer.”
Idris, who handled the case pro bono, commended the DSS leadership for setting a precedent for accountability.
“This decision will boost public confidence in the judiciary and law enforcement,” he said.
