The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara State chapter, has decried alleged clampdown on members of the party by law enforcement agencies over media comments on developments in the state.
In a statement by the state publicity secretary of the PDP, Olusegun Adewara, the party said the arrest of a member of the party, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Babaimole at his mosque located at Pakata area of Ilorin metropolis since last Friday by men of the state police command was disturbing.
The statement also said that men of the state police command arrested Comrade Solihu Onirakunmi and Comrade Jimoh Olamilekan Waheed on charges allegedly related to criticism against the government.
The statement reads: “The unjustified actions of the state police command has deviated from their core duty of safeguarding lives and property but has become a tool for suppressing dissenting voices on affairs of the state.
“We express our deep concern over the recent arrest and detention of an Islamic cleric, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Babaimole, since Friday evening, when the police were aware of the public holiday on Monday and Tuesday.
“We are particularly disturbed by the forceful manner in which he was apprehended during Friday evening prayers in a mosque in the Pakata area of Ilorin by armed men from the surveillance unit of the Kwara Police, A-Division.
“While calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Alhaji Abdulganiyu Babaimole, Solihu Onirakunmi, and others who are detained, PDP urgently call on the Inspector General of Police to intervene”.
However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ejire Asetoun-Adeyemi, when contacted on the development, said that the arrest was based on the petitions written against the suspects.
“The Police have commenced full investigations into the petition to know the level of their involvement in the allegations raised against the suspects”, she said.
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