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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned what it described as harassment, illegal arrest and detention of opposition figures in Kogi State, warning that such actions could trigger far-reaching legal consequences both locally and internationally.
In a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdulmumin Ohiare Abdulsalam, the party alleged that a recent defector from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Faruk Ozigi Onimisi, is being unlawfully detained by the Police.
Onimisi was reportedly abducted from his residence in Kubwa, Abuja and transported to Lokoja, Kogi State, by operatives allegedly acting on directives from the state government.
The party further claimed that the political activist was being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department under inhumane conditions, including solitary confinement and alleged torture. It also stated that he had been denied access to legal representation and family members and has not been formally charged in court, actions it said violate his fundamental human rights.
The NDC argued that Onimisi’s arrest was linked to his alleged plans to organise a civic protest against the state government, describing the move as a repressive tactic frequently deployed to silence dissenting voices.
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“We demand his immediate release, or at the very least, that he be charged to court without further delay if any legitimate offence has been committed,” the statement read.
The party called on the Nigeria Police Force, particularly the Kogi State Command, to cease what it termed harassment and intimidation of opposition members. It emphasised that citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and association are guaranteed under Nigeria’s constitution, as well as international frameworks such as the African Union and United Nations charters.
The NDC also warned the administration of Ahmed Usman Ododo to halt what it described as oppressive actions against political opponents or face legal challenges.
According to the statement, continued clampdown could prompt the party’s legal team to initiate court proceedings against the Kogi State Government and relevant security agencies. It further warned of possible escalation to international bodies, including the ECOWAS Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, to seek sanctions and justice.
Despite the tensions, the NDC urged its members and supporters in Kogi State, particularly in Kogi Central, to remain peaceful, law-abiding and resolute, assuring that its leadership organs were considering appropriate responses to the situation.
