He said contrary to the claim by the DSS, his father was arrested in the early hours of Saturday on his way to Abuja to attend the screening of Kogi State governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress to support one of them.
“When this happened and it got to our knowledge, I tried to reach some persons within the corridors of power in Kogi State. Most of them feigned ignorance. At some point, some of them were trying to make us believe that to be a kidnap case”, the Baze varsity don said.
According to him, his father’s case has confirmed the situation where “the people in government have resorted to intimidation, political persecution of people that are seen as threats to their planned installation of one of them as the next Governor of Kogi State.”
The PUNCH reports that the DSS had on Sunday said it arrested a retired Colonel and eight others, and recovered arms from them.
The spokesperson for DSS, Peter Afunanya, had in a statement said they were arrested by operatives in Kogi, Adamawa, Abuja, and Plateau states between March 1 and March 26 during a joint operation with other security agencies.
Among those arrested, he said, was a retired officer of the Nigerian Army identified as Col A.U. Suleiman (retd.), and five others.
But during a press conference organised by Okpanachi Jacob, coordinator of a human rights organisation under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Society for Good Governance, Suleiman said his father was innocent.
He said, “My father is innocent, if you recall, Natasha Akpoti-Uguaghan actually accused the Head of the Navy and DSS of complicity in most of the Illegal arrests, and in some cases, alleged killings in Kogi state. And the arrest of my father (Col. A. U. Suleiman) is a testimony to the fact about what is happening in Kogi State, a situation where so many people in government have resorted to intimidation, political persecution of people that is seen as threats to their planned installation of one of them as the next Governor of Kogi State.
“This happened on the day that Col. Suleiman was coming into Abuja for the screening of APC governorship candidates. That means his arrest was politically motivated. I, representing the family, hereby call on the military hierarchy to intervene and ensure his release. I call on the National Security Adviser and the Federal Government to quickly address the evil that is going on in Kogi State so that the proper thing can be done.
“Let the Director-General of DSS that is Bichi who is also a Fellow of the Nigerian War College, just as my father, kindly address this problem and investigate properly to establish the truth of this conspiracy by the state government, the Director of DSS in Kogi state and other elements who are trying to frustrate the electoral process that is going on and produce a candidate in APC for Kogi state. Eventually, the DSS quickly put up a press statement to say that some gangs of criminals were arrested.”
Jacob faulted the scenario surrounding the arrest of Col. Suleiman saying it was followed with immediate prosecution with much investigation.
He said an arrest was done and followed by a media display. While these issues bothered the public, he added, it was important that to state that it was seemingly more political even though they do not want to make a categorical statement as they expect an outcome of a more effective investigation.
In the light of that, they demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Col. A. U. Suleiman pending a proper investigation on the subject matter. Citizens of Kogi State are not convinced of this action as he has remained a man of good character thus a serious scrutiny of the process is thus demanded.
“We appeal for calm and peace amongst the people of Kogi state and the family of Col. A.U. Suleiman as we anticipate a favourable response from the ongoing process and that the state political players ensure dialogue is the best option for power play.”
