22 Kidnapped FCT Residents Rescued
The Nigeria Police Force has freed the arrested Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner.The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has, however, kicked against the quick release of the suspended REC.
Spokesman of the Police, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, who announced the release, yesterday, said: “NPF hereby confirms that Barr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Adamawa State REC, who has been in custody for interrogations by the police in the course of investigations into allegations of impropriety during the supplementary gubernatorial polls in the state has been granted administrative bail by the Police while investigations subsist.
“He is expected to report at the Police Headquarters every weekday while investigations are ongoing on the matter.”
Reacting to the development, National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, condemned the action, describing it as a conspiratorial plot to bury the scandal.
His words: “The Federal Government, INEC’s hierarchy, the DSS and the police have one thing in common in this Adamawa debacle in the sense that all these institutional heads aforementioned played one role or the other in the drama that played out in Adamawa State. The REC has lots of secrets that these institutional heads in Adamawa may not want him to disclose.
“So they released him as a way of soft-landing, so he keeps quiet and let the sleeping dog lie. It’s a conspiratorial plot to bury the scandal. Unfortunately, Nigerians do not remember such odious incidents for long; so with time, it will be buried under the carpets of impunity.”
Meanwhile, The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, CP Haruna Garba, has confirmed the rescue of 22 hostages kidnapped in the territory.
The CP made the disclosure during his maiden press briefing yesterday at the FCT Police Command Headquarters, Abuja. He said that FCT police operatives on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, rescued 22 hostages kidnapped in an incident reported on Tuesday, April 4, 2023.
“The FCT Police Command launched a special rescue operation in and around Kogi, Nasarawa states and the FCT borders.
“On May 3, 2023, the operation yielded positive results as all victims were rescued unhurt around Sarudauna Forest, Nasarawa State, via Gegu village bordering the FCT, by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.
“The victims were taken to Abaji General Hospital, where 10 victims with mild symptoms of illness were treated and discharged, while the remaining four are still on admission. Efforts are being intensified to trail/arrest the fleeing suspects.
“Similarly, on May 3, 2023, at 5.30pm, a team of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit on clearance operation at Sardauna Forest bordering Chikara Village of Kogi State, Nasarawa and FCT rescued eight hostages, namely: Buba Galadima, Sarki Galadima, Audu Galadima, Musa Buba, Mohammad Isa, Hassan Audu, Aminu Ahmadu, and Abubakar Mallam, kidnapped from Lapai and Tungan Mallam Villages of Niger State since April 13, 2023.
“All rescued victims were handed over to Ardo Galadima of Lapai LGA, Niger State, for urgent medical attention.”
Garba appealed to the FCT residents to assist the police either by providing credible information that would defeat crime or by direct participation in activities that would mitigate crime and criminality.
“It is only by working together as a team that the security challenges in the FCT can be conquered,” he said.
He assured residents of the FCT that he would bring professionalism to bear in the discharge of his policing mandate.
“The Fundamental Human Rights of the people will be respected and protected; community partnership, visibility policing, and intelligence-led approach which are the cardinal principles of Police Force will be vigorously pursued,” he added.
