Why we arrested Sen. Ibrahim, Rep. Jibrin – IG | Nairalaw

The Inspector General of Police (I-G), Mohammed Adamu, on Friday
in Abuja said the suspects arrested in connection with the killings
in Kwara and Kano states had nothing to do with their political
parties’ affiliations.

Adamu explained this while answering questions at a media
briefing where he featured alongside the Chairman of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood
Yakubu, on the commission’s preparations for Saturday’s national
elections.

He said that the suspects, who happened to be candidates
participating in Saturday’s elections, were arrested for having
connection with the crisis in the two states, and that they needed
to defend themselves.

“We heard of what happened in Kwara, the Commissioner of Police
reported that two people were killed and the group of people that
were suspected to have perpetrated the killing were arrested.

“And one of them is a candidate of a political party. So,
because he is a candidate in the election, should we allow him go
without facing the law?

“So, he has been arrested with others;he needs to defend himself
as regards to the allegation of the murder.

“We cannot just because he belongs to a political party or is a
candidate for election that he was arrested, no.

“The same thing in Kano, we all know that there was a problem in
Kano, two people were killed in Kano, some vehicles were burnt
down…police had to move to make arrest of people that were
committing this crime on the scene.

“In the course if making this arrest, one of the suspect happens
to be a candidate in the election that is supposed to take
place.

“Do we leave him because he is a candidate? I think he should
defend himself, that is why he was arrested.’’

The Commissioner of Police in Kwara, Kayode Egbetokun, had
earlier confirmed the arrest of the PDP Kwara South Senatorial
candidate, Sen. Rufai Ibrahim, over his link with Tuesday’s attack
on the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Lola
Ashiru, in Ojoku.

The Police Command in Kano State also confirmed the arrest of a
member representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal constituency, Abdulmumini
Jibrin-Kofa, over Thursday’s clash between supporters of PDP and
those of APC.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Abdullahi
Haruna said that Jibrin-Kofar was arrested alongside some political
leaders from the area in connection with the clash between
supporters of the PDP and the APC at Kofa village in Bebeji Local
Government Area.

He said Jibrin-Kofa was arrested alongside the political leader
for questioning over the incident.

No fewer than two persons lost their lives following the clash,
while 20 vehicles were burnt and 18 others vandalised.

Meanwhile the PDP on Friday demanded the immediate and
unconditional release of its Kwara South Senatorial candidate, Sen.
Rufai Ibrahim, and other members of the party allegedly “framed-up,
arrested and detained” by the Police in Kwara.

The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity
Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, said that the continued
detention of Ibrahim on the eve of a crucial election, in which he
is a lead contender, was provocative.

Ologbondiyan cautioned the police to stop harassing, arresting
and detaining PDP members on “flimsy charges” that could directly
pitch security agents against the people.