Makarfi warns el-Rufai against arbitrary arrest of PDP members

Ex-commissioner’s whereabouts unknown
Former governor of Kaduna State, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state against arbitrary arrest of opposition party members.

The words of caution followed the arrest and detention, by security operatives, of former Commissioner for Information in the state, Saidu Adamu, and two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials at Kabala Costain Ward, who commented on the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Reacting to the arrest of the trio, including Adamu, who is also the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Council in Kaduna, the PDP stalwart said: “Adamu is still in detention and we don’t know the alleged offences. He has also not been charged to court. It is a very sad development.”

The former chairman of PDP National Caretaker Committee claimed that about 80 members of the party had been pencilled in for arrest by the APC government before the governorship and House of Assembly elections, rescheduled for March 18, 2023.

“Our attention has been drawn to a list of our field officers, drawn up by the government to be arrested and detained until after the elections. This has grievous implications,” Makarfi alleged.

Those in the list, according to the former governor, are from Kudan, Sanga, Igabi, Lere, Kachia, Jaba and Kaduna North local councils.

On the arrest of Adamu, the Assistant Director (Public Affairs) of PDP Campaign Council, Yakubu Lere, said: “Adamu was arrested three days ago. They said he was talking about Muslim-Muslim ticket, Samuel Aruwan being in charge of Hajj operations, and some Mallams given money to preach about Muslim-Muslim ticket. This is what we heard.

“However, we have been denied access to where Adamu was detained. We made telephone calls to him, but we could not reach him. Even his wife could not reach him. Our party has reached out to the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, without any success. We have asked our lawyers to go and talk to them. But, what we heard was that they are taking him to court, according to unconfirmed reports anyway.”

Kaduna Police Command said it is working to know where the former commissioner was arrested before establishing the facts of his arrest.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Muhammad Jalige, told The Guardian: “We have 61 divisions and seven area commands in Kaduna. Where was he arrested, so I can put a call to them?

“I was called on the same issue on Wednesday, but I could not get anybody that could give me any idea on where to start. You know, if we have an issue in Birnin Gwari, I know we have an Area Commander there. Meanwhile, I am also working on it to see how we can get the facts.”