Members of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in Zamfara State, are appealing to stakeholders especially the security agencies to intervene in what they called harassment, intimidation, and unlawful arrest of their party members in the state without providing reasons for the action.
They also alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government in the state is planning to arrest some APC stalwarts ahead of the state Assembly bye-election for the Bakura constituency.
The accusation is following the arrest of a closed ally to former Governor of the state, Abdulazeer Yari, and other members of the party in Zamfara State.
According to them, the Police Commissioner in the state could not give reasons nor information about where those arrested were taken to.
They called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to quickly act to douse the political tension in the state ahead of the Bakura constituency bye-election.
The party members said no amount of intimidation, harassment, and insult can stop them from supporting the former governor and the APC as a party.
The opposition APC in the state staged a peaceful protest in front of the Zamfara State Police Command demanding the release of some of the party members arrested Saturday night.
The protesters were, however, despatch by the police with tear gas and thereafter released the arrested members of the party.
The Zamfara State Police Command in a press statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, however, stated clearly that the arrest of Alhaji Habu Mohammed Dantabawa and 17 others by operatives of the Command on Saturday, September 12, 2020, was not politically motivated.
The statement said the arrest was an intelligent driven and proactive action by the state Police Command to prevent a possible breach of public peace and ensure that the state continues to enjoy the relative peace
It said the arrest was carried out in the overall interest of public peace, public security, and public safety.
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The Command warned all citizens of the state irrespective of their political affiliations, their status, or standing in society to desist from actions that are inimical to the safety and security of the citizens of the state.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
