Police detain Kogi monarch, 30 others over council poll

By JAMES AZANIA, Lokoja

A traditional ruler, Alhaji Nasiru Momoh and 30 other prominent individuals in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State have been detained at the state Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) CID, Lokoja.

The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, on Monday, confirmed the development but refused to give further details.

Aya, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), simply said that those arrested must have run foul of the law.

Findings by The Nation revealed Momoh, who is the Asema Uka (Otumi-Ajoko) and the others were said to have raised the alarm over alleged imposition of an unpopular candidate by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the planned council elections in the state, which according to them could ignite crisis in the area.

But another source claimed that some APC leaders were uncomfortable with seeing the traditional ruler and other party stalwarts rooting for a chairmanship aspirant perceived not to be the “anointed candidate of the Governor.”

The State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has slated the council poll for December 12.

The council leader, who is the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the Governor on Security, Mr. Omuya, was said to have ordered their detention.

Those affected were said to have been invited for a meeting by the police but have been in detention since last Tuesday.

Others detained include the immediate past chairman of the council, Alhaji Ajoge Enesi; one Abdullahi Aliyu, a retired Army officer and the council youth leader.

Aya said they must have run foul of the law to have been arrested.

He said he had not been properly briefed on matter and promised to get back to our correspondent.

He was however yet to do so as at the time of filing this report.

He also didn’t answer calls placed to his mobile line. (The Nation)