The Presidency, on Tuesday has commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for raiding the residence of popular Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Ighoho and for facilitating the extradition of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The New Diplomat had reported that Kanu, was re-arrested from a yet-to-be-named country by FG and extradited to Nigeria.
He has subsequently been re-arraigned before Justice Murtala Nyako in Abuja last Tuesday on charges of terrorism and treason, among other weighty allegations.
Similarly, the operatives of DSS on July 1 raided the residence of Igboho located in Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The raid came less than three days to the Yoruba Nation rally which later held in Lagos State, Saturday.
According to the DSS spokesman, Mr Peter Afunanya, the invasion was based on an intelligence report that Igboho was allegedly stockpiling arms to cause chaos within the southwest region.
Thirteen people were also arrested from the house after a gun battle between his guards and security operatives.
Reacting to the raid, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement commended the operatives, saying that Igboho has allegedly inflicted pain on Nigerians.
The presidency, in the statement described Igboho as a “militant ethnic secessionist, who has also been conducting acts of terror and disturbing the peace under the guise of protecting fellow ‘kinsmen’.”
The statement reads, “Last week, we saw the enhanced collaboration of the Nigerian law enforcement agencies, as they executed with great synchronisation arrests of individuals who had inflicted pain and hardships on fellow citizens.
“The subversive leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group known for its murderous actions and virulent messaging was detained as a result of cross-border cooperation.
“This international operation was executed in a closely coordinated fashion following which he was handed over to our National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and then returned to Nigeria to face the Law.
“The violence inspired by IPOB has led to hundreds of fatalities, particularly targeted at government assets and law enforcement agents.
“Additionally, there have been at last count, fifty-five (55) separate violent attacks, heavily concentrated in the Southeast, which heaped further hardship on our honest and hardworking citizens, preventing them from earning their livelihood and going about their normal lives.
“The government had long been monitoring the activities of IPOB and had strong cause to believe that their funding sources include proceeds of suspected illicit criminal activities.
“By this singular action of our security forces, sanity, calm and peace had been returned to our communities who previously lived in constant fear of these misguided elements.
“In furtherance of continued diligent work, the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday, 1ST of July, raided the residence of a militant ethnic secessionist, who has also been conducting acts of terror and disturbing the peace under the guise of protecting fellow ‘kinsmen’.
“His seditious utterances and antics, which he is known to have publicly expressed, have overtime morphed into very hateful and vile laden speeches.
“It must be highlighted that the government respects fundamental rights of citizens to express their views and recognises this as a democratic tenet.
“However, any attempt to build an armoury, coupled with plans either subtle or expressed, to undermine our unity as a nation will not be condoned.
“Mr. President’s directives to security services regarding anyone seen to be carrying arms, particularly AK-47, are clear and require no further illumination. Assault weapons are not tools of peace loving people and as such, regardless of who they are and where they are from the security agencies should treat them all the same.
“The successes of our security agencies must be commended as they have demonstrated significant deftness, guile and secrecy in carrying out these missions. This level of professionalism must be sustained and brought to bear as we focus on extracting from our society those who have found a new trade in targeting students, rural dwellers and our citizens in the Northwest. The nation recognizes their efforts and sacrifice.”
This commendation from the Federal Government is also coming after the Southern Governors’ Forum had resolved that security agencies must notify them as the chief security officer of their respective states before they carry out any operation within their domain as condemnation continues to trail the DSS action.
The 17 Governors, during the meeting which held in Lagos State, had condemned selective criminal administration of Justice while resolving that arrests should be made in line with the constitution of Nigeria and citizens’ fundamental human rights.
“The Forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty;
“Re-emphasised the need for State Police. Resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any state, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed.
“Frowns at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law and fundamental human rights,” the communique stated.
