President, Centre for Change, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to learn from history in dealing with Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho.
She was reacting to reports alleging that security operatives attempted to arrest Igboho earlier on Friday.
In a statement, Okei-Odumakin warned that Nigeria must not open “another theatre of war” in the southwest as it continues to battle terrorism and other vices across other parts of the country.
READ ALSO: Controversy As Security Operatives ‘Attempt To Apprehend’ Sunday Igboho
She noted that, rather than arrest Igboho, the government should solve the “herders terrorism” in the southwestern part of the country.
Okei-Odumakin further warned that Nigeria must not be taken back to the “dark ages of arbitrary arrests” and “abridging of the inalienable rights of Nigerians”.
“We received with concern the reported attempt by security operatives to whimsically arrest rights activists, Mr. Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho,” she said.
“We must learn from history and tread carefully! This was how a little Boko Haram fire was carelessly handled and it became the monster that it is today.
“With crises everywhere – Boko Haram, Herders banditry, kidnappings and the Niger Delta militants joining the fray again – we must not open another theatre of war in the South-west.
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“Rather than go for Igboho’s arrest, let the Federal Government address the vexed issue of Herders terrorism in the South-west and, indeed, in other parts of the country.
“This is what gave rise to the Igboho phenomenon and solving it will be tantamount to uprooting the problem completely and handling the Igboho issue.
“Cutting the branches might turn out an exercise in futility as the tree will sprout again.
“Leaving the substance and chasing shadows is like leaving leprosy and treating skin rashes.
“Addressing the problem of insecurity holistically will be less expensive than opening another front for unrest in the South-west.
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“Besides, it is important to remind the authorities that we are in a democracy, which does not allow for extra-judicial killings or the trampling of the fundamental rights of citizens.
“Gestapo-like seizure of citizens is anathema to democracy and we thought we had outgrown that!
“Nigerians fought bitter fights and waged relentless struggles for the freedoms and liberties we all enjoy today – including those of our compatriots in power.
“They, therefore, must not take us back to the dark ages of arbitrary arrests and abridging of the inalienable rights of Nigerians.
“A word is enough for the wise!”
However, the Department of State Services (DSS) has denied reports that its men attempted to arrest Igboho.
“The Department of State Services wishes to refute the news that it attempted to arrest one Sunday Igboho, today, at Ibadan, Oyo State. The said news is misinforming and should taken as fake and therefore be disregarded,” DSS said in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Peter Afunanya.
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