Some national officials of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) have been arrested by suspected security operatives.
The spokesman of the coalition Comrade Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, who confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday identified the missing officials as “the BOT Chairman of CNG, Nastura Ashir Shariff and the national Coordinator, Balarabe Rufai”.
He noted that they have been “picked by men suspected to be Security personnel this afternoon, Thursday, February 04.”
According to him, “reasons for their arrest (are) not yet known as we are still working to establish connection with them or trace where they are taken to.”
He added that “both their phone lines have been unreachable for the past two hours.
“It may not be unconnected with a planned press briefing by the CNG at the NAF club Kaduna which was botched by the security.
“The Kaduna DSS director had called us earlier today and tried to threaten us against going ahead with the briefing.
“We stood our ground and insisted on our right to freedom of association and expression.
“A few minutes afterwards, we were called from the NAF Club and informed that they were ordered from above to refuse us the use of the Hall.
“We then went to tell the pressmen who were already gathered at the venue and told them of the development and asked them to disperse because we have suspended the briefing.
“As we left the NAF Club and were driving along adjercent Nagogo road a hooded Peugeot car blocked the lead car which was conveying the two officials and ordered them into the Peugeot and sped off”, Comrade Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said.
He disclosed that as at 6.30pm of Thursday, the BOT Chairman of CNG, Nastura Ashir Shariff and the national Coordinator, Balarabe Rufai’s whereabouts remained unknown.
He narrated that “Our people who have been trailing the arrest vehicles reported that they lost the trail at Jere on the way to Abuja after driving around Kaduna town with a brief detour towards the state government House through Gwamna Road unto the Abuja expressway.
“We have however made contact with the DSS director of Kaduna State and he insisted the arrest was not carried out by his men and he was not aware of where they are being held.
“Eye witness account to the arrest has however affirmed that the arrest was carried out by ununiformed officers in black suits driving hooded vehicles.
“We find it unfortunate that Nigerian Security agencies would rather find convenience to intimidate harmless civilians going about their civil functions than confronting the challenges posed by kidnappers who roam freely without any form of security presence.
“Meanwhile, we have placed all our 19 northern states Coordinators on high alert with instructions to mobilize for massive street protests by 10am tomorrow, Friday to demand the disclosure of the whereabouts of our officials.
“We strongly condemn this act of impunity displayed by an administration that has no regards for rule of law and no respect for human dignity and liberty.
“We remain determined to keep on the struggle for the emancipation of of the northerner and the restoration of peace and security”, he stated.
The Street Reporters Newspaper recalls that the Department of State Services (DSS) had in the week issued warnings on efforts to incite the public.
It is yet to be established if the suspected arrest is in connection with the warnings.
