Wednesday’s confirmation of the arrests and detention of the caretaker chairman of Mafa local government, Hon. Shettima Lawan Mafa and the caretaker vice chairman of another local government area, also in Borno State over terrorism-related offences has been generating public commentary, with commentators split in opinion.

The Theater Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor told a news conference that Hon Mafa is in military custody where he is answering questions over allegations that he was harbouring a Boko Haram suspect in his private residence in Maiduguri along with the suspect’s father.

Irabor said their investigation which is still ongoing, revealed that the father of the suspect approached the chairman and requested him to assist and accommodate his son, a fleeing Boko Haram suspect whom the military later traced to the chairman’s house.

Daily Trust investigation however, revealed that a serving councilor with the local government visited the chairman in his house where the suspected Amir (Commander) was also staying and the councilor identified him as the insurgent that killed his father.

A resident of Mafa who is conversant with the issue, Bukar Kolo said: “The councilor controlled his temper and called the chairman aside and told him is this not (name withheld)? The chairman said yes. The councilor said ‘what is he doing in your house? You know he was the one that killed my father. He is a confirmed Boko Haram terrorist. Let us invite the military.’ But the chairman pleaded with him to forgive. The councilor left the chairman’s house unsatisfied and proceeded to complain to the military. When the chairman sensed that the councilor will not let it go, he left his house and went to stay in the house of another council chairman in Maiduguri. When the intelligence went to pick the suspect, the chairman was not at home but they left message for him to report to their office.”

When this reporter visited the chairman’s houses at 707 and 202 Housing Estates respectively, nobody was present. However, at his house number 2126 at 505 Housing Estate in Maiduguri where his wives live, a young female went into the house and came out to say that his wives said he has traveled to Mafa.

A retired civil servant from Mafa, Modu Bulama told this reporter at Mijigne ward of Mafa that “When news filtered Mafa that government was about to appoint him as caretaker chairman, there was a protest. Even when people were not able to travel to Mafa from Maiduguri because the insurgents were all over the place, Hon Mafa was driving to Mafa alone,” he said.

But the state Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon Usman Ali Zanna in a statement on the issue described the arrested chairman as someone who for years, worked closely with hunters and military commanders in his local government to fight insurgency.

“We assure citizens of the 27 local government areas; other concerned Nigerians and the international community that we are usually very thorough in identifying those appointed as local government chairmen, ward councilors, traditional rulers, vigilantes and members of the Civilian JTF unless him or her is verified by the Department of State Security in addition to fingerprints and photographs of everyone captured into a database,” the statement read in part.

No sooner than the story of the arrest of the chairman was reported by a section of the media, than the Civilian JTF, led by its leader Abba Sa’adu and the vigilante group of the local government led by Agar Jallabe addressed a joint press conference urging the military to release the chairman because according to the groups, he is a good man.

But a youth from the area council that pleaded for anonymity said those that addressed the press are youth loyal to the chairman.

But the case of the Mafa chairman, Shettima Mafa, is not the only high profile case the Theater Command is handling in relation to terrorism related cases in the state, as Daily Trust investigations revealed that the military made several arrests of some personalities over alleged cattle-rustling.

Those arrested include a Divisional Police officer (DPO), military officers, policemen, Civilian JTF, civilians and the Vice Chairman of Bama local government, Alhaji Ba’ana Gamboye, who has been in military custody when his syndicate, which includes soldiers, was smashed by the military intelligence from the Theater Command over allegations of trading rustled cattle. He is currently in military custody.

Speaking to Daily Trust at Dalori IDP Camp, an official of the area council who pleaded for anonymity, said the arrest of the vice chairman and a soldier he has been operating with was effected in Maiduguri. “Our officials were angry when we heard that. He was transferred to Abuja for further investigation. It was in Abuja that I was told he told the investigators that most of the cows belongs to a soldier they were doing their deal together. But that is coming rather late. Let me tell you one thing I noticed. The GOC of 7 Division (Theater Commander) deserves special commendation. We raised money to kill the case but our emissaries came back to say it will not work, as the GOC insists that justice must prevail.”

A Borno-born, Kano-based estate developer, Hajja Fatime Ali, said her concern is duration of the local government chairman. But a Maiduguri based legal practitioner, Barrister Bukar Alhaji Waziri of Peace Chambers said the anti-terrorism law permits the military or any other security agency to arrest and detain a suspected terrorist more than the stipulated time provided by the constitution. This is contained in section 1 of the anti-terrorists act. It provides that any person who knowingly does, attempt or threatens to do an act preparatory or in the furtherance of an act of terrorism or commit to do any act is reasonably necessary to promote an act of terrorism or assist or facilitate or harbouring in the activities of persons engaged in an act of terrorism, commits an offence under this act.


Source://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/maiduguri-split-over-arrest-of-2-lg-bosses-over-terrorism/179489.html#b4BfFhyt6w1vPgqF.99

This is highly unbelievable

Hon. Bama going to bama in bama local government. Una father no get name. Names such as daura,baga, etc

Even when people were not able to travel to Mafa from Maiduguri because the insurgents were all over the place, Hon Mafa was driving to Mafa alone,” he said.




Hmmmmmmmmmm

I am pretty sure one or more terrorist pointed them out

And I'm yet to see Northerners defending them


If it was my pipu from LiePob land this thread would be full of insults on Buhari

from d article u can clearly see dat boko arams, cow rustling n fulani terrorism is a deliberate creation of d north.

highpriest4:
Hon. Bama going to bama in bama local government. Una father no get name. Names such as daura,baga, etc

de have no fathers. Datz y de r called almajiri.

GMBuhari:
I am pretty sure one or more terrorist pointed them out

And I'm yet to see Northerners defending them


If it was my pipu from LiePob land this thread would be full of insults on Buhari

So the bastards hiding terrorists are also liepods abi. Oga you arent making any sense this morning.