From Edwin Olofu, Kano
Joint Civil Society Front of Northern Nigeria (JOCSOF), yesterday in Kano demanded for the immediate release of Alhaji Halliru Imam (Sarkin Malamai) and Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim ( zonal chairman of Miyetti Allah), by the security agents.
Addressing newsmen in Kano yesterday, Alhaji Abdullahi Tudu, on behalf of coalition of NGOs from Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states, stated that the prolonged detention of the two prominent leaders without trial for more than one month.
The duo have been in detention after they made an attempt to secure the release of 486 northerners that were detained by the Nigeria military in Abia state recently.
“It was while these 486 northerners were in detention that Alhaji Halliru Imam and Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim, being northern community leaders resident in Port Harcourt, visited Asa military barracks, Aba, in Abia state to inquire about the reason for the detentions.
“Rather than being given explanation for the detention, the two community leaders were themselves arrested, detained and have remained in the custody of the Directorate of Security Services (DSS), inaccessible to their families for the past one month.”
The group frowned at what it described as an infringement on their fundamental human right and clear violation of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, and of international human rights treaties and conventions.
“ The constitution of Nigeria has expressly provided that persons arrested on suspicion of committing a crime must be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction within 48 hours and given access to legal assistance.”
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