The Imole Campaign Council has commended the Nigerian Navy for what it described as professionalism and neutrality in Osun State, while condemning the reported release of an All Progressives Congress House of Assembly candidate allegedly arrested with a gun.
In a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, the council said its attention had been drawn to “the arrest and subsequent controversial release of an All Progressives Congress member, Babatunde Festus Komolafe, who is also the APC House of Assembly candidate for Atakumosa East/West Local Government Area.”
According to the statement, Komolafe, popularly known as BFK, was apprehended by naval personnel in his hometown of Ifewara on Thursday.
The council alleged that “during a routine search conducted by men of the Nigerian Navy, the APC candidate was arrested alongside his supporters while travelling in a campaign vehicle reportedly belonging to the APC after a gun was allegedly discovered in the vehicle.”
It said the arrest had become public knowledge after a video of the suspects circulated widely on social media.
“The arrest is no secret, as a video showing the suspects has since gone viral and attracted public outrage,” the statement read.
The campaign council further claimed that the suspects were released shortly after their arrest due to pressure from senior APC figures.
“However, we gathered reliably that the arrested APC candidate and his co-perpetrators were immediately released following pressure from APC top goons,” it stated.
The statement added that “a news outlet even chronicled how the naval officer in charge was forced to release the suspects and asked to step aside.”
Despite its criticism of the release, the council praised the conduct of the armed forces during the ongoing governorship election campaigns.
“The Imole Campaign Council commends the men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, especially the Nigerian Navy, for their neutrality and professionalism since the commencement of the governorship election campaigns,” the statement said.
It added, “The men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces have been proactive in arresting troublemakers regardless of party affiliation. Special salute to our gallant troops!”
The council, however, insisted that releasing a suspect allegedly found with an unauthorised firearm was dangerous.
“That said, the release of a suspect who was caught with an unauthorised gun is unacceptable. It sends the wrong signal to political criminals whose pastime is killing and maiming,” the statement declared.
The group linked the incident to what it described as the APC’s past conduct in Osun State.
“This is particularly alarming because of the APC’s antecedents in Osun. Just two weeks ago, the police launched an attack on military personnel to rescue five APC hoodlums, including the notorious APC thug, Asiri Eniba, arrested by the Nigerian Navy for shooting sporadically in Ile-Ife with pump-action guns,” it alleged.
The council called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to intervene.
“We call on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to look into this grave injustice and punish the suspects,” the statement said.
It concluded, “No politician is above the law, and no political thug should be released to keep fomenting trouble.”
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