Arewa Consultative Forum Speaks : Northern Muslims Targeted In Abia Arrests

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has accused the security agencies of targeting northern Muslims in the arrest of 486 persons in Abia State on Sunday.

 The men, all aged between 16 and 24, were being conveyed in 33 buses when they were arrested at the road between Aro-Ngwa and Imo Gate along the expressway by soldiers assigned to the 144 battalion. While two buses were said to have escaped, those arrested were reportedly unable to disclose their destination. But the northern socio-cultural organisation, ACF, issued a statement in Kaduna on Wednesday saying the arrested persons were pursuing their legitimate “means of livelihood in the southern part of the country”.



 The statement was signed by the organisation’s national publicity secretary, Alhaji  Muhammad Ibrahim. ACF said the suspects were arrested in the southern part of the country not only because of  suspicion of being Boko Haram members “but because of their faith, origin and appearance”. “Indiscriminate arrests based on faith and origin negate the spirit of one Nigeria and equally violates the  freedom of movement and association as guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution,” it said. ACF alleged that the suspects were  subjected to ill treatment and hardship in the hands of security agencies following their arrest.

 The forum said it was not against operations against Boko Haram insurgents but “the arrest of people on account of their religion, their origin and the appearance is condemnable. “This is because such an action will make innocent and law abiding citizens of a particular origin or faith to suffer unduly in the hands of security operatives. “ACF therefore calls on the relevant authorities and in particular the Abia State government to exercise caution on the alleged arrest of Jigawa indigenes  on suspicion of being Boko Haram members, lest such an action make some people of a particular faith and origin become foreigners in their fatherland. “Nigerians deserves adequate protection of their lives and property wherever they are from their governments therefore, governments, should ensure peaceful coexistence among Nigerians in any part of the country irrespective of their faith and origin.” 

The military said on Tuesday that a “terror kingpin” had been identified among the arrested persons.