From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Residents of Gboko Local Government Area in Benue State have raised an alarm over the whereabouts of the caretaker chairman, Hon. Abraham Agber.
It was gathered that the Gboko council boss was picked by men believed to be operatives from the Nigeria Police on Friday, January 12, 2024, at Winika Hotel, Gboko.
A source, who claimed to be a witness but wouldn’t want to be named, said the operatives stormed Winika Hotel at about 11pm last Friday when the chairman had just finished interacting with his personal staff.
It was said that they banged on the door of the room where the chairman was lodged threatening to break the door if he didn’t open.
According to the source, when the chairman opened the door, they entered, searched his room and vehicle before whisking him away.
The source said: “It is getting to one week now when Agber was arrested, but no one knows his whereabouts and what is happening to him. His family has not been contacted to ascertain where he is being held and for what reasons. We are worried about his whereabouts and his condition.”
Meanwhile, rumours are rife that the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Aondona Dajoh, was behind his arrest.
But when contacted, the Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, said he has no such rights or powers to arrest a council chairman in the state.
Dajoh, who spoke to newsmen on phone, yesterday asked: “Does the speaker have the right to order the arrest of council chairman without the consent of the Governor?
“There is a sitting governor and there is acting (deputy) governor, so, does the speaker have the power to arrest council chairman without the governor saying do this thing?
The speaker, who noted that the council boss did something which is big explained: “There was an intelligent report from force headquarters that I should be assassinated.
“The Governor and Inspector General (IG), are aware of it. It is not linked to me, I didn’t report him anywhere.
“There is conversation between him (council chairman) and someone and IG told the Governor what was happening in his state.
“What I’m telling you is established and it is coming from high authority. I was only told to beef up security around me that this is what is happening around me. They could have done it without me knowing and when the CP called me to give me more men, I said am okay with the ones I have.”
The speaker, who insisted he was innocent of his arrest, disclosed that he had been summoned for questioning, saying, “I will be going to Abuja on Thursday, where the council chairman has been taken to. They said I should come.”