Relatives Denied Access To Detained 486 Northern Traders

Anxiety has gripped several family members of the 486 suspected insurgents from the northern part of the country arrested by soldiers in Abia State a week ago while they were travelling to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, following the refusal of the authorities of Asa Army Base in Ukwa West local government area of the state, where they are currently detained, for them to have access to their relatives.

When LEADERSHIP Sunday visited the army barracks, many relatives of the suspected insurgents were seen crowded at the gate of the army facility waiting anxiously to gain access into the barracks.
A relation of one of the suspected insurgents who spoke on condition of anonymity denied speculations that the suspected insurgents were members of Boko Haram, adding that they are rather artisans, traders and menial job seekers who were travelling to Port Harcourt at the time of the arrest to seek their daily bread.
He expressed fear that the detainees might be living under stringent conditions since they have been tagged suspected terrorists, adding that the army should allow them to give the detainees food and medication.
The chairman  of an association of Jigawa indigenes resident in Aba, Alhaji Idris Wanzam,  who claimed his nephew’s wife, one Jemina Dan Nasara, was among those detained, said he had made several unsuccessful attempts  to gain access into the barracks to see her.

According to him, on each visit, he was told by soldiers at the gate that he should wait until investigations on the identities and mission of the suspected insurgents were completed.

He appealed to the military authorities of the 144 battalion to speed up the investigations, and release his relations who, he said, are artisans and menial job seekers, who have nothing to do with Boko Haram.
Another man who identified himself as Murtala Wanzan said he had also made several unsuccessful efforts to see his brother-in-law, Magaji S’aidu, who hails from Karyi local government area  of Kano State,  and who,  according to him, sells tea at Ariaria Junction, Aba.

He said Saidu was returning to Aba from Kano in one of the 33 Hummer buses that were impounded by the soldiers on that fateful day.

Attempts by LEADERSHIP Sunday to see the detainees and the commander of the army base in Asa proved abortive.  A guard at the gate said the reporter should get a written permission from Army Headquarters before he could have access to the base to see the detainees.

The Abia State commissioner for information and strategy, Dr Eze Chikamnayo, who briefed journalists last Monday alongside the commander, 144 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Rasheed Omolori, following the arrest of the suspected insurgents, could not be reached on phone for an update on the incident.

The director of information, Defence Headquarters, Major General Chris Olukolade, could not be reached. He was unable to pick his calls and did not respond to our sms. However, a military source, who gave reasons why they are still being held, disclosed that 86 insurgents have been identified among them.

“We are aware of the pressure being mounted from the outside on those that are being held. But let me explain to you the reason why those suspects are still being held. In the first instance, 86 of them have been identified as suspected members of the Boko Haram outlawed sect. This was discovered during the screening and others are still being screened. The question is, where were these people going in the late hours of the night? How come most of them were having less than N1,000 and they did not even know where they were heading to?”

Speaking further, he said, “Those who wanted to know the identity of the kingpin arrested among them have hidden agenda and those who are clamouring for their freedom do not mean well. We need to be cautious because we are in more or less war situation and all hands must be on deck. We seek the understating of all and sundry. I assure Nigerians that no innocent would be punished.”

On the condition of their detention, he said, “They are not being detained per se; the places where they are held are good and in order. We would not allow people to communicate with them for now due to security reasons. People should understand this. As soon as the screening is over, those who are innocent would be let go.”

- The Nation NG

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