ACF urges FG to probe Sheriff’s link to arms-laden plane

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday called on Federal Government to investigate the linkage between former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Sheriff and the detained armed-laden Russian aircraft at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. It was alleged that the former Borno state Governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff secretly visited the Kano airport few hours after the plane was detained by Nigerian security agents. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Monday, ACF lamented that, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff whom Dr. Stephen Davis, an Australian hostage negotiator accused of being a Boko Haram sponsor was reported to have been sighted at Aminu Kano international Airport.

The socio-cultural group therefore called upon the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate the detained Russian aircraft, its contents and why it landed in Kano Airport.

“It’s likely connected with the current terrorism ravaging the North and the alleged presence of Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff at the Airport. Nigerians demand an urgent explanation in order to reinforce their confidence in the government and to also disabuse their minds on the wild rumors being peddled around of the government complicity in the insurgency.

“Recently, there have been wide spread allegations of influx of arms and ammunitions into Nigeria, through our borders with Chad and other neighboring Countries which have been a source of serious concern to Nigerians.

“The Boko Haram insurgency which flourishes along some of the border towns with Tchad Republic, alleged illegal arms influx through the Tchad borders, Tchad’s role in the aborted cease fire agreement between Nigeria and Boko Haram insurgents and now the Russian aircraft containing arms allegedly meant for French peacemaking mission in Tchad calls to question the sincerity of good neighborliness”, the statement read.