The Joint Task Force (JTF) yesterday in the crisis ridden State Bornu
confirmed that the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) chairman Alhaji Mala Othmanis has been taken in custody heightening fear of imminent arrest of other top members of the party for alleged cooperation with the terrorrist sect Boko Haram.
Just last week a vigilante group consistingbof young Bornu state indigene's had attacked Alhaji Othman but he managed
to evade the youths but they however set his GRA residence on fire.
The Bornu State Governor Bakura
Shettima swiftly reacted to the news stating through the state secretary of the party that the arrest was nothing more than a political motivated crackdown on
ANPP.
The JTF spokesman Sagir Musa however revealed that the chairman is only being
investigated But Alhaji Umar Duhu Senior Special Assistant to former Borno State governor now ANPP BOT chairman, Ali Modu Sherriff, condemned the arrest ofbthe party chieftain. He said in Kaduna
that the arrest of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) chairman in Borno State Mala Othman over ECOMOG group was condemnable.
According to him, ECOMOG was formed as a political group and has nothing to do with the Boko Haram insurgency. "Thenpolitical youth wing named ECOMOG has
nothing to do with Boko Haram. In fact, the ECOMOG is greatly hunted by the Boko Haram members. I can vouch for Mala Othman because he is honest, clean and God fearing and did not deserve this
kind of treatment after some youth
called 'civilian JTF' burnt down his
house," Duhu said.
However, "the JTF has arrested the
chairman of the ANPP, Alhaji Mala
Othman. He is in JTF's custody
undergoing interrogation. Investigation is ongoing and the press will be accordingly
briefed at the end of the investigation,"
Sagir said, when contacted to shed light on the arrest of the party chairman.
Othman has been the ANPP chairman right from the days of former governor.Ali Modu Sheriff and observers say his arrest is a prelude to other high profile
arrests over allegations on the protracted Boko Haram crisis.
Duhu who is the
chairman of the ANPP in Adamawa State.and Vice Chairman, North-East of the yet-to-be registered APC alleged that Othman is been witch hunted by politicalbopponents.
"God willing, the truth will come out and justice will prevail. It is just sad that people are playing politics with the security of lives and property. The actionbof the so-called 'civilians JTF' that burnt down his house must be investigated and their sponsors apprehended," Duhu added.
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