Court Exonerates DSS in Long-Running Case Over Missing Terror Suspect Linked to ISWAP Attacks

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A Federal High Court has cleared the Department of State Services (DSS) of allegations regarding the disappearance and alleged killing of a terror suspect connected to Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) activities, including bank attacks and other terrorism-related offences.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman, the court held that the plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate claims that the suspect, Yusuf Lukman Omeiza (also known as Magas), was unlawfully detained and killed by the DSS.

Omeiza was arrested by the DSS on October 1, 2015, in Okene, Kogi State, over suspected involvement in terrorism-related offences. These included alleged participation in bank attacks and other violent acts linked to ISWAP operations. Following his arrest, the suspect reportedly went missing, prompting his family and representatives to file a suit against the DSS, seeking declarations of unlawful arrest, detention, and extrajudicial killing.

The plaintiffs had demanded court orders declaring the actions of the security agency unconstitutional, along with compensation for the alleged violations. However, after reviewing the evidence presented, Justice Liman ruled in favor of the DSS, stating that the claimants could not prove their assertions that the defendant was responsible for the suspect's death or disappearance.

This ruling brings closure to a decade-long legal battle that has drawn attention amid ongoing national efforts to combat terrorism in Nigeria. The DSS has faced numerous accusations of rights abuses in its counter-terrorism operations, but this decision underscores the importance of evidentiary standards in such cases.

Security analysts note that the case highlights challenges in tracking suspects after arrests in high-stakes terrorism probes, where intelligence operations often involve classified information. The exoneration of the DSS is seen as a boost to the agency's credibility in handling sensitive counter-terrorism matters.

No immediate comment has been issued by the DSS or the plaintiffs' representatives following the judgment. The development comes at a time when the Nigerian security apparatus continues to record successes against ISWAP, including recent prosecutions and convictions of group leaders involved in past attacks.

As Nigeria grapples with persistent threats from ISWAP and affiliated groups in the North-East and beyond, this court outcome reinforces the need for transparent, evidence-based accountability in security operations. Observers will be watching how this precedent influences similar pending cases involving detained or missing terror suspects.

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