The Zamfara State Government has raised serious concern over the alleged harassment and intimidation of opposition figures in the state through the use of federal security institutions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor
Sulaiman Bala Idris, the government said it was compelled to bring to public attention on alleged actions by the Minister of State for Defence, whom it accused of using the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to intimidate members of the opposition in Zamfara State.
According to the statement, the government received a disturbing report of the abduction of Saleem Abubakar, a Technical Assistant in the Office of the Zamfara State Governor, who was reportedly taken in Abuja on Monday.
The statement further claimed that, the alleged abduction was carried out by operatives said to be attached to a special forces unit under the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The Zamfara State Government also alleged that, the incident was orchestrated and syndicated through the NSA’s office by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, described the development as unfortunate and deeply troubling.
It was further alleged that the operatives, acting without an arrest warrant, took Saleem Abubakar to an undisclosed location and later moved him between facilities in an attempt to conceal his whereabouts.
The government warned that, no level of political desperation should justify the misuse of security institutions, stressing that such actions undermine the neutrality and professionalism of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“We cannot afford to fold our arms and watch the nation’s highest security offices allegedly being deployed as instruments of political persecution,” the statement said.
The Zamfara State Government called on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene and call the Office of the National Security Adviser to order, noting that such alleged actions could damage Nigeria’s democratic image and international reputation.
The government maintained that if there are any allegations against Saleem Abubakar, due process should be followed by charging him in a court of law, rather than resorting to what it described as an alleged unlawful abduction.
The statement concluded by assuring the public that the Zamfara State Government is closely monitoring the matter and will pursue it to a logical conclusion to ensure that justice prevails.
REL/AMINU DALHATU
