/ 2 hours ago
In a rare outing, the Nigerian Army has accused the police of releasing suspects arrested in connection with thuggery and other acts of criminality in Sokoto state. Besides, the Army has vowed to, henceforth, keep suspects apprehended until after general election scheduled for February 16 and March 2. Specifically, the Army disclosed that troops of Operation Egwu Eke 111 had, last Saturday, apprehended 16 suspected political thugs along Illela-Danfulani- Gwadabawa road.
The disclosure was made in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brigadier-General Sani Usman. According to Usman, shortly after the arrest of the suspects who, he said, were armed with 27 axes and 16 customised sticks. He, however, alleged interference by a senator, who he said, had ordered his mobile police escorts to free the suspects. The DAPR further alleged in the course of executing the directive, an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS), was molested, with his clothes torn.
He said: “Troops of 8 Division, Nigerian Army, on Exercise Egwu Eke III, in conjunction with other security agencies have recovered dangerous weapons from criminals and political thugs in Sokoto State. This has really contributed immensely to a peaceful security situation in the State. “However, yesterday, Saturday 2nd January 2019, troops on joint stop and search patrol patrol with other security agencies, arrested 16 persons believed to be political thugs armed with dangerous weapons along Illela-Danfulani- Gwadabawa road. “The suspects were arrested armed with 27 axes and 16 customised sticks. While still conducting the search, a prominent politician in the state and a serving Senator, came to the scene and ordered his mobile police escorts to release them.
“In the process, the Department of State Service operative was molested and his clothes torn. The patriotic and professional officer still held on to the seized weapons.”This was as he added that another “prominent politician from Zamfara State had earlier tried to influence the investigation of arrested armed political thugs.” In the face of the foregoing, the Army has warned that it would not tolerate attempts to interfere with its operations.
It, nonetheless, reiterated its adherence to professionalism and non-partisanship. “These undue pressures and attempts to interfere with the conduct of the exercise for selfish reasons are indeed worrisome and disturbing and will not be tolerated. “The Nigerian Army has always been professional, impartial and apolitical and will continue to be so. Since the operationalization of the Exercise in January 2019, we have arrested thugs armed with dangerous weapons across the various political parties, without fear or favour. “The thugs were documented and handed over to the police. We have noted with great concern that such criminals usually find themselves back into the society without any sanction
