Boko Haram sponsorship: “Arrest Sheriff, Ihejirika now” – ACF tells FG

 

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has called on the federal government to arrest and investigate former Borno State governor Ali Modu Sheriff and former past Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen Azubuike Ihejirika over their alleged involvement in the activities of Boko Haram sect.

Apparently angered by the recent disclosure by Stephen Davis, an Australian hostage negotiator, who spent some time in Nigeria on the invitation of the Nigerian Government to try to secure the release of the Chibok, the forum said the federal government must show its seriousness by bring the duo on a hot seat. Continue...

 The northern top forum rose from its Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting chaired by Mallam Adamu M. Fika, expressing disappointment with the lackadaisical attitude of the military in combating this menace that has resulted into the mass killing of innocent souls, destruction of property and displacement of many people.

A statement by the ACF spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim, reads: “ACF calls upon the Federal Government to urgently institute an investigation into the weighty allegations made by Dr Stephen Davies against the persons named in his interview with the international media in funding and sustaining the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East region. Persons found to have been involved in such crime against the state should be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others”.

According to the forum, a situation where insurgents took over some part of the country was grave and worrisome since there appeared to be no counter action from the military.

ACF condemned the seizure of some local government areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states and the continuous capturing of more territorial areas of Nigeria by the insurgents.

“ACF urges Nigerians to rise up and unite for good governance and peaceful coexistence irrespective of political, religious and other inclinations.

“ACF and other similar organizations including traditional and religious institutions have on different occasions expressed concern on the security challenges in the North and its devastating effect on the socio-economic and political life of the people.

“The situation has escalated to the seizure of some portions of Nigerian territory by the insurgents without any resistance from our military and other security agencies”, the statement added.