Nigerian Concord Newspaper
The Concerned Shitile Movement for Peace has raised fears over the recent release of the member representing Katsina-Ala in the Benue State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Jonathan Agbidye who was detained at the DSS office in Makurdi.
The lawmaker who was detained for some weeks over his alleged involvement in the crimes that are being committed in Sankera Axis of the state was reported to have made some confessions to his interrogators during the period of his detention.
Just last week, a pressure group in Sankera raised an alarm that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume was making frantic efforts to secure the release of the detained lawmaker.
Reacting to the allegation, stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress in Sankera held a press briefing where they said that the SGF wasn’t making any efforts to release Agbidye. They however urged this newspaper to tender an apology to the SGF.
The detained lawmaker who was said to have made some confessions to his interrogators at the DSS in Makurdi has been released by the security agency.
Reacting to Agbidye’s release by the DSS, the Concerned Shitile Movement for Peace in a press release through Terve Tordonga and Emmanuel Igbazenda Michihe, who are its chairman and secretary respectively
condemned the release, saying it would pose more dangers in Sankera.
The press statement reads: “The Concerned Shitile Movement has observed with great concern the recent release of Hon. Agbidye from the law enforcement agencies without being charged to court for the allegations of kidnapping, being in possession of vehicles and other valuables seized from kidnap victims, funding bandits and also sharing from the ransome and proceeds of kidnapping activities. He was also accused of being an informant to the bandits.
“This group is aware of available evidence at the disposal of law enforcement agencies, including personal confession of involvement by Hon. Agbidye and being in possession of vehicles and other materials robbed from victims kidnapped by the bandits.
“We are also aware of personal testimonies from eyewitnesses and electronic materials presented to law enforcement agencies confirming the involvement on Hon. Agbidye in the criminality going on in Sankera Kingdom.
“Regrettably, all these were jettisoned, and the man was released without being charged.
“We had in our first press conference appealed to the SGF, Sen. Akume who was bent on directing the release of Hon. Agbidye to disregard political affiliation and consider the plight of Sankera people in the Hands of Hon. Agbidye, but this fell of deaf ears.
“It is regrettable that Hon. Agbidye’s release has witnessed an increase in banditry attacks in Sankera as he has instigated the bandits against his perceived enemies.
‘While he was in detention, the security agencies recorded a great fit as they were able to neutralise the Leader of the bandits in Hon. Agbidye’s clan nick named Tswaree with more than 15 of his followers.
“This was possible because no one could leak the information of the planned operation to the bandits as it was usually done by Hon. Agbidye. This is also an indication that his absence will aid security operations in Sankera.
“We do not know where to go to seek justice any longer. It is painful to observe that a confirmed criminal is being shielded from facing the law because of political affiliation.
“We call on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to come to our aid and ensure that Hon. Agbidye is charged to court to clear himself of these allegations”