Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), has called for the arrest of Islamic clerics Sani Jingir and Ahmad Gumi over what he described as inciting comments capable of worsening the country’s security situation.
Irabor also backed the police invitation of Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a controversial statement allegedly directing his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party and their family members ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
Irabor said this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, while reacting to recent comments by some political and religious leaders
The former defence chief who also supported the invitation of the Senator representing Osun East,Senator Francis Fadahunsi by the police over ” kill them” comment said individuals who make statements capable of inciting violence should be immediately subjected to investigation and, where necessary, arrested.
“For me as a person, any time we hear individuals who make inciting comments, I think that such people should be picked up immediately, and that is why I am glad that even though the statement made by Senator Fadahunsi is a political one, but I think that it also borders on incitement to violence. I think the police have done the right thing by inviting him, and he should be questioned even beyond that,” General Irabor said.
Sheik Jingir had recently at a mass wedding organised by the Kano State government backed the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election, urging Muslims to use their voting strength at the polls and ensure that their votes reflect their numerical strength in the country.
Further reacting to the cleric’s comment, Irabor said, “Added to that is of course the Sheik in Kano, Sheik Jingir, who also made some comments which of course I believe are also inciting, that could also add to the bouquet of threats that we have; he also should be arrested, and I also believe that the various comments that someone like Gumi has been making also demand that he be called not just to order but, of course, invited and arrested in order to let the populace know that there is nobody who is above the law and then when you say things that are not right you should be called in to answer,” the former service chief said.
Fadahunsi was invited by the police on Wednesday following backlash over the viral video.
However ,Irabor said authorities must take firm action against inflammatory statements that could undermine peace and security
