Biafra apparel: Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu released from DSS detention
Nollywood veteran actor, Chiwetalu Agu, was yesterday released from detention of the Department of State Services (DSS).
His release was secured by the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
AGN made this known via a statement on their official page.
The statement signed by their Communication Director, Monalisa Chinda reads: “The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Ejezie Emeka Rollas has yet again secured the release of Actor, Chiwetalu Agu from the custody of the DSS.
“On behalf of the Guild, I was at the DSS office with my colleague, the Senior Special Assistant on Military Affairs and Inter-Governmental Relations to the President, Steve Eboh to receive Mr. Agu today (yesterday).”
“The elated veteran actor thanked God for surviving the ordeal and commended the leadership of the Guild headed by Ejezie Emeka Rollas for their relentless efforts in securing his release from the detention.”
Recall that the national leadership of AGN has earlier, said they did not know why Agu, was moved to Abuja, stressing that they have engaged legal experts to secure his release from DSS.
It was gathered that Agu, who was first arrested by the Nigerian Army on October 7 around Upper Iweka in Onitsha, Anambra State, for allegedly adorning Biafra outfit, while distributing bread and other items to the poor was released the next day.
The Army had also accused him of soliciting support for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He was rearrested shortly after leaving the premises of the Nigerian Army, Enugu by the DSS.
He was allegedly flown to Abuja as part of investigations on his alleged promotion of Biafra and inciting members of the public.
Agu, before his re-arrest, had insisted that the outfit he wore was that of the “rising sun”, and that he had gone to Upper Iweka as part of his routine to identify with the poor.
He insisted that he never “canvassed for support for the IPOB”.
Speaking to The Guardian on the phone yesterday, an official of AGN, who pleaded anonymity, stated that they had already commenced moves to ensure he did not stay long in detention.
“We are already making efforts to ensure his release soon. We are working internally. We understand that the DSS has taken him to Abuja. What we don’t know is why he was moved to Abuja. You know that it was the Army that arrested him first and later released him. He was brought from Onitsha to Enugu.
“It is a matter involving the DSS and you know that the DSS does not speak anyhow. We don’t have access to him. We are involving legal experts to ensure that he is released on time,” the official said.
Earlier, a relative was quoted to have said: “We spent two days trying to ascertain his whereabouts. We were later informed that he was moved to Enugu and then Abuja. We heard that the idea is to move him away from the Southeast. We have made efforts to see him, but the DSS has not granted us access.”
Efforts to speak with DSS’ Public Relations Officer, Dr. Peter Afunanya, failed as he did not pick calls made to his known mobile telephone number.
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