Leaders of armed groups in North West being secretly released by officials says group

By Samuel Ogunsona

Detained leaders of armed groups in the NorthWest are being secretly released by local officials, a group has said.

The Concerned Nigerians for Security Unity and Sovereignty (CONSUS) said bandits in military custody in Southern Kaduna are secretly being released.

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman Mr Bolaji Akinyemi and made available to Irohinoodua warned that such action would lead to crisis.

Akinyemi is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PVC-Naija and initiator of CONSUS.

He said the armed men were initially linked with kidnapping, murder and rustling.

He said they were also involved in setting ablaze the rectory of Saint Raphael’s Catholic Church Fadan Kamanton in the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna State.

He said their actions led to the death of Na’aman Danladi, a Catholic Priest.

Reports said the Priest was burned to ashes by the arrested bandits

Akinyemi said they are known to have been responsible “for why Southern Kaduna, particularly Ikulu land, has become a theatre of death; a cluster for kidnappers, and a harmful colony to both its people and would-be investors.”

He accused the bandits of “cold-blooded murder of the likes of the former Director General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Dr. Yakubu Sankey, Ardo Saleh Umar who was slaughtered like ram because of his commitments to Peace, and a retired Airforce Officer, Master Warrant Officer Hamza Musa, among tens of people that they sent to their early graves.”

He said some of the released bandits were were found with the AK-47.

He said ‘This is not to mention their report card in the kidnap of especially vulnerable women and children that they often keep in their custody for weeks or months depending on when a ransom is paid.” the group noted.

He lamented that hundreds of people cannot visit their hometowns because of the activities of the terrorists, while some traditional rulers have fled the town.

“This is not to mention the inability of ordinary people to freely go to their farms for fear of being kidnapped. Ditto investors. The result is clearly what we now see: famine and the shutdown of economic activities.”

The bandits were arrested since last year.

CONSUS said the society they were released into was still mourning the consequences of their evil deeds.

“Their coming back is marked by both celebration and mourning. Celebration by their families and friends, and mourning by the rest of society. The last few days, particularly in Ikulu land, have seen some impromptu migrations for fear of the obvious.”

The group urged the government to investigate the release of the alleged bandits.

He said “Government and all those in charge of our security must answer the following: Were these people charged to court? Were they found innocent leading to their release? If not, could it be that they have finished serving their jail terms? And if they were released on bail, who were their sureties?”

It then pleaded with the government and all stakeholders to look into the development before it breeds chaos “The people are desperate to live and could do anything to keep their lives. A stitch in time saves nine, the saying goes.”