Posted by By Emeka Mamah on
KADUNA - LEADER of the Socialist Front and Chaiman of the Northern Civil Society Coalition, an umbrella body of all civil and human rights groups in the Northern states, Mallam Shehu Sani was yesterday arrested and whisked him away to Abuja on the orders of the Presidency.
KADUNA - LEADER of the Socialist Front and Chaiman of the Northern Civil Society Coalition, an umbrella body of all civil and human rights groups in the Northern states, Mallam Shehu Sani was yesterday arrested and whisked him away to Abuja on the orders of the Presidency.
About 20 security men who allegedly arrested Mallam Sani stormed his two residences located at Shehu Crescent ( Anguwar Rimi GRA) and Kabala costain at 9.00am and conducted searches on his two houses. They later carted away computers and series of documents belonging to Mallam Sani.
The security men drove Mallam Sani to his private office at the headquarters of the Civil Rights Congress (CRC) on Katsina road where another round ofsearch was carried out and some equipment removed fromthe secretariat.
Journalists who were alerted by neighbours of the rights activist at the Shehu Crescent residence of Mallam Sani, the president of the CRC witnessed the search by stern-looking security officials who prevented people from entering while others combed the area.
An attempt by the Secretary General of CRC, Mallam Nasir Ahmed to force his way into the Shehu Crescent residence of their president was resisted by the SSS men who threatened also to shoot him.
One of the security operatives confirmed to journalists that Mallam sani's arrest was a directive from the Presidency. A security man also saisd that the Presidency asked them to conduct a thorough search on both the residence and offices of Mallam Sani.
Mallam Sani told journalists on phone before he waswhisked away to Abuja that his arrest was not unconnected with the third term agenda of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
'I have been told that my arrest has to do with the third term agenda of President Obasanjo. The SSS cameto my two houses and my office this morning, conducted a terrible search and took away several documents and my computers.
'Among the documents they took are my personal correspondences with PRONACO, Citizen's Forum and other important documents.I have not decided on the steps to take at any rate, this will depend on the outcome of this arrest," Mallam Sani said.
Commenting on the incident, the National Vice-President of the Campaign for Democracy in the North-West zone, Mallam Abdullahi Ahmed said it was unfortunate that Mallam Sani who had been the arrowhead of the president's policies was arrested and treated like those in the" opposition".
Ahmed however said that 'some of the security agents also visited my office with the intention to effect my arrest,"adding that 'When I arrived at my own office at Kazaure Road, I was told that some people came looking for me with an unmarked car."
According to him,"When I got out of the premises, some four men approached me asking for Abdullahi Ahmed and I told them that he may still be away observing the sallah holiday. That was how I left my office."