Gov. Idris sends Delegation to Benin Republic over Unlawful Arrest of 10 Kebbi Indigenes

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris has sent a powerful delegation to Benin Republic to facilitate the release of 10 youths from the state arrested allegedly as suspected Boko Haram member.

The 10; Yusha’u Mohammed 38, Surajo Likita 25, Suleiman Usman 25, Ibrahim Umar 29, Nazifi Tahiru 18, Babangida Aliu 30, Usama Kabiru 25, Babawo Mohammed 35, Hamisu Dan Ashibi 25 and Ibrahim Rilwanu 25 all from Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

Disturbed by what he described as “wrongful, unlawful and unjustifiable arrest and detention” the governor in statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, said he sent a delegation, headed by the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Shafiu Abubakar who met with the Ambassador of Nigeria to Benin Republic.

He charged the delegation to explore all avenues within the ambit of the law to rescue the affected persons alongside their capital and other property.

According to the statement, leader of the delegation presented a letter to the ambassador seeking his input towards the release of the innocent Nigerians.

The letter reads in parts: “I am compelled to humbly bring to the notice of Your Excellency a troubling and worrisome situation involving ten (10) innocent indigenes of Dandi Local Government Area, Kebbi State-Nigeria.

“Ten of them are languishing in detention somewhere in Benin Republic.”

He said the chairman of Dandi Local Government of Kebbi State reported that on Thursday, 1st of June 2023, 10 of their people returning home from Benin Republic were arrested at Kaini Tunga village of Benin Republic by the country’s security personnel.

Abubakar lamented that the security personnel erroneously and maliciously named them “Boko Haram sect members”, adding that their monies, phones and other items were forcefully taken away.

He said it was confirmed that they were all taken to an unknown detention facility in Cotonou – Benin Republic and all efforts to locate them proved futile.

The Special Adviser confirmed that the Chairman and community leaders insisted that the accused individuals were law abiding citizens who were into genuine businesses to meet the needs of their families assuring that the said the allegations by those security men was just a “figment of their imaginations.”

He noted that given the emotional trauma members of their families and the community at large were going through, saying: “I pray His Excellency explores the appropriate legal channels to ensure that they are discovered and given the opportunity to prove their innocence.

“It will be highly appreciated if Your Excellency could use your esteemed office to find out whereabouts of these innocent people and ensure that justice is done to them.”

Those in attendance are the Hon. chairman Kamba Local Lovernment and former Ambassador Dolekena.