The pan-northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday decried the arrest of 486 northerners, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, in Abia State by military operatives on Sunday.
ACF argued that the arrest and subsequent denigration of ‘northern traders’, suspected to be members of the outlawed terrorist group, negated the spirit of oneness and the violation of rights of Nigerians in their own country.
The Forum, through its spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim, noted with concern that it was dangerous to arrest people on the basis of their “faith and origin”, warning that the act would not augur well for the peaceful coexistence of the country.
The ACF added that in as much as it supported the war against terrorism, it was completely against a situation whereby innocent citizens would be picked up by security operatives simply because they professed a particular religion and hail from a particular part of the country.
It, therefore, called on government, particularly, the Abia State Government, to thread with caution on the arrest of the 486 traders, noting that “such an action makes some people of a particular faith and origin become foreigners in their fatherland”.
The statement added, “Arewa Consultative Forum learnt with serious concern the arrest of 486 Northerners in pursuit of their legitimate means of livelihood in Abia State in the southern part of Nigeria on the allegation that they are members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect on account of their faith, origin and appearance .
“On arrest, they were alleged to have been subjected to ill treatment and hardship in the hands of security agencies.
“This indiscriminate arrest based on faith and origin negates the spirit of one Nigeria and equally violates their freedom of movement and association as guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution.
“While ACF is not against operations designed to checkmate the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, it however condemns in strong terms arrest on account of appearance, faith and origin. 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 makes some people of a particular faith and origin become foreigners in their fatherland”.
Malam or hausa fulani as become a treat to the unity of this Nation,anywhere they are seen in the south,they need to be investicated because in every group of malams,there must be element of BH.
Abeg na southerners b boko haram b4, whoelse u wan make dem dey arrest if not northeners_ na una b boko haram so na una dem go dey arrest period.
from d handwriting on d wall is there anything like d spirit of nigeria any longer the notherners have kill dat spirit since
SO U HAV CONCERN 4 BOKO HARAM MEMBERS ABI? PLS WHICH IS LEGITIMATE MEANS OF LIVLIHOOD? WAT JOB DID U KEEP 4 16YR OLD BOY IN D EAST? CANT U GIVE THEM THAT JOB IN JIGAWA? IS THEIR ANOUNCEMENT OF VACANCIES HERE? WHICH ONE IS NOT VIOLATION OF RIGHT OF NIGERIANS IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY: IS IT KILINNG IGBOS IN D NORTH? KILING CHRISTIANS IN D NORTH? OR BOMBING AND DESTROYING OF PROPERTIES BELONGING TO SOUTHERNERS ALL IN D NORTH? AR SOUTHERNERS NOT BEEN TREATED AS SLAVES IN THEIR FATHERLAND (JIGAWA)? HAUSAS AND MUSLIMS AR D PROBLEM OF NIGERIAS UNITY. PLS SEPARATE AND BECOME UR OWN COUNTRY. LETS PART WAYS. U AR BUNCH OF COWARDS.
Why are dis pple contradicting issues! Who is in this country is treated as a stranger? In short their state govt should provide them with jobs and let them remain there. What are we even benefiting from this so called coexistence? I was posted to KD for my service…which I would av stayed with my so nothern nigerian brother! I culd not stay, I ran to ebonyi. I least by now I would av learnt how to speak hausa,eat their food make frindz and so. But all to no avail.meanwhile all their children who came to the south enjoyed peace. The security operatives must do their job by seaching all the malams.
The Nigerian security shd arrest these person(s) for ?g. It was said they went to look 4 jobs, now traders. Let d law take its cos. They were arrested base on security grounds,period.
ACF, who are you people fooling? After 38 years of misruling Nigeria, during which time you schemed and flooded the military, the police force, navy, customs and others, with your own people with a skeleton in the cupboard, whose backlash the country is wallowing in now , is this promoting peaceful coexistence? Imagine the irksome writing here, portraying yourselves as peace lovers by destroying southerners and their property in the north. Your peace is shedding blood as a ticket to aljena. Why pray? If easterners destroy their own good things just the way you do, where would such a large number of you be gong? The thinking of all of you is UNDER your feet. People looking for work later became traders. Threats of your bombing refineries are rife. You stockpile weapons to-kill. Why is this not providing jobs for your born-to-rule exploding population? All Criminal Fooling , what jobs did you create for your unreliable people so far away in the east? Why not back home? Trusting any one of you is suicidal!