320 arrested suspects in Rivers not Boko Haram members – ACF

The South-South and South-East coordinator of Arewa consultative Forum, ACF, Alhaji Musa Saidu has dismissed media reports that about 320 persons arrested on Sunday by Rivers State police  Command are members of an Islamic Sect , the Boko Haram. Alhaji Saidu who spoke with Daily trust in a telephone interview said the suspects were  traders […]

The South-South and South-East coordinator of Arewa consultative Forum, ACF, Alhaji Musa Saidu has dismissed media reports that about 320 persons arrested on Sunday by Rivers State police  Command are members of an Islamic Sect , the Boko Haram. Alhaji Saidu who spoke with Daily trust in a telephone interview said the suspects were  traders from the North who are  residents of  Port Harcourt but  had traveled to Jigawa State to buy their wares.
Nigerian  dailies reported today that 320 Boko Haram suspects were arrested in Rivers State and  were taken to the State criminal and investigative department where they were quizzed by police investigators. The State Commissioner of police had earlier declined comment on the matter on the ground that it was a sensitive security matter.
“The news in major dailies today that 320 suspected Boko Haram members were arrested by the Police in Rivers State is false. Those that were arrested are Northern traders who have lived in Port Harcourt for over thirty years. They are traders that deals on carrot, suger cane and other petty trading. They traveled to North to buy their wares and on their way coming back they were arrested by the Police at the State border with Imo State”
“I want to stay here that this people are innocent traders that have nothing to do with Boko Haram. We know that the security agents are fighting Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, but innocent people should not be framed into what they don’t know. The suspects were coming back from Jigawa where they have gone to buy their wares. As they were returning they decided to go in convoy of buses for fear of being attacked by arm robbers. Those who could not join the bus had earlier boarded lorry that took them to Port Harcourt” he said.
He pointed out that prominent Northern leaders in Rivers State such as the Saraki Hausawa have gone to the police to identify the suspects.

The ACF leader called on the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter as to unravel the truth.