The Borno state government has sealed off the state headquarters of the New Nigeria People’s Party(NNPP) in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
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He added that the party’s Central Senatorial Candidate, Hon Attom Muhammad Maigira, was arrested after he honored a police invitation and currently behind the bar.
He said the policemen were deployed to the Party Secretariats along Abbaganaram and Gidan Maradara areas to prevent the party faithful from accessing their offices.
Maigira also said he had been arrested.
“When I got the information that police have sealed our secretariat I rush to find out the reason for their presence. As I am talking to you they have arrested me and did not explain this reason for my arrest,” he said.
Our correspondent who visited the Abbagannaram junction at exactly 11:30am sited dozens of anti-riot policemen and civilians joint task force (CJTF) stationed there with patrol vehicles.
Borno State Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Sani Kamilu Muhammed, has declined to pick several calls and did not reply text message sent to him at the time of filling this report.
However, NNPP in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Dr Agbor Major, condemned the police siege on the party’s secretariats, describing the act as “outrageous, barbaric, repulsive, reprehensible and disgusting.”
The statement read in part, “The New Nigeria People’s Party strongly condemns the police siege on its two secretariats in Maiduguri, Borno State capital this morning ahead of the party’s National Leader and Presidential Candidate, Dr (Engr.) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s visit on Saturday.
“NNPP will resist this executive recklessness, rascality, impunity and reign of terror by the outgoing All Progressives Congress in the state that is jittery over the popularity of our great party in Borno State.
“For years, the good people of Borno State have been yearning for a new Nigeria which NNPP represents and will win in 2023 general election to breath fresh air into governance and provide dividends of democracy to the long-suffering citizens in the state.
“NNPP urges the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to call the Commissioner of Police, Borno State Command to order, investigate this anti-democratic siege of a foremost political party in Nigeria and withdraw his men immediately.
“A new Nigeria is possible if citizens, security agents and government at all levels are law abiding, follow due process and uphold democratic ethos, ethics and ideals.”