CNG protests against leaders’ arrest by DSS

The Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) has said that its members will, today, embark on massive protest in the 19 Northern states, following the arrest of its leaders by the Directorate of State Services (DSS) in Kaduna State.

Specifically, the officials of CNG had scheduled a conference in Kaduna yesterday when Security operatives allegedly whisked two of them away.

CNG spokesman, Zangon Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, stated: “We wish to inform the public that as at 6.30 p.m. on Thursday, the whereabouts of the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman of CNG, Nastura Shariff, and the National Coordinator, Balarabe Rufai, remain unknown.”

According to him, the group has mobilised its members for a mass protest in all northern states to press for the release of their leaders.

Suleiman said: “Our people, who have been trailing the arrest vehicles, reported that they lost the trail at Jere on the way to Abuja after driving around Kaduna town with a brief detour towards the Government House through Gwamna Road unto the Abuja expressway.

“We have, however, made contact with the DSS director of Kaduna State and he insisted that the arrest was not carried out by his men and that he was not aware of where they were being held.”

According to him, witnesses affirmed that the arrest was carried out by officers in black suits driving hooded vehicles.

His words: “We find it unfortunate that Nigerian security agencies would rather find convenience in intimidating harmless civilians going about their civil functions than confronting the challenges posed by kidnappers who roam freely without any form of security presence.

“We have placed all our 19 northern states coordinators on high alert with instructions to mobilise for massive street protests by 10 a.m. tomorrow (Friday) to demand the disclosure of the whereabouts of our officials.

We strongly condemn this act of impunity displayed by an administration that has no regard for rule of law and no respect for human dignity and liberty.”