Paschal Njoku, Abuja
Relatives of 12 travellers who were allegedly arrested in Kogi state on their way to Abuja to witness the botched July 26, proceedings in the on going trial of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have cried out to the Federal Government to release them unconditionally.
The 12 persons including two drivers, who are said to be from Ebonyi state were allegedly arrested and detained in Lokoja, Kogi state, on Monday July 26, the day of the trial.
The victims are; Wisdom Ezike, Kenneth Ojima, Chinedu Nwoba, Igwe Sampson, David Ogbonnaya, Aja Joseph, Barrister Awoke, Chinoso Oyibe, Eze Joseph, Okezie Fortune and two drivers.
A source who spoke on behalf of the relatives told Daily Independent that he gathered on good authority that the travellers were arrested and detained by operatives of the Department Of State Services in Kogi state.
“My brother is one of those arrested and detained by the DSS in Kogi state, on their way to Abuja to attend Nnamdi Kanu’s trial on July 26” the source, who preferred anonymity stated.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to effect the release of the innocent citizens as they did not commit any crime in travelling on road constructed with tax payers’ money.
Recall that DSS operatives had on July 26, dispersed people who had come to show solidarity to Kanu during the trial at the Federal High Court Abuja.
Concerted effort by Daily Independent on Sunday, to have the DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunaya to either confirm or refute the allegation proved abortive as he did not reply a text message sent to him as requested by him.
Also, the GSM line of Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel to the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu was switched off as at the time calls were placed to him.
But Barrister Maxwell Opara, an Abuja based legal practitioner and rights activist, who is a member of Kanu’s legal team confirmed the information that some supporters of the IPOB leader were arrested on July 26.
However, he said the are making contacts to know the exact locations of such arrests so that they can issue a statement to that effect.
