Assassination: LG boss accuses Melaye of instigating arrest of loyalists, family members

THE Administrator of Ijumu local government area of Kogi state, Alhaji Taufiq Isa, on Thursday raised the alarm over the alleged harassment and arrest of his family members and supporters over the alleged assassination attempt on the senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Dino Melaye.

Isa, who is also the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, however urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to intervene and stop the trend.

He said the senator had been instigating the police to stop the arrest of people loyal to him in connection with the alleged attack on him (Melaye).

According to him, some men in police uniform had since invaded the towns in Ijumu local government area to pick innocent people that had nothing to with the said attack.

Speaking through the media consultant to ALGON, Abubakar Suleiman, the local government boss said there was the need for the IGP’s intervention to prevent the situation from escalating.

He said, “I want to call on the Inspector General of Police to as matter of urgency stop the senator from threatening, harassing and arresting members of my family and supporters loyal to me in Ijumu local government area.

“Senator Dino Melaye is presently using some uniform men to arrest my brothers, sisters and other supporters in Ijumu, I feel very sad the way my people who voted for  Dino are been harassed and been arrested by their representative they elected into National Assembly, the police should call Dino to order before the crisis degenerates.

However, Melaye said he had never instigated anybody’s arrest as claimed by the ALGON boss, saying he only submitted a petition to the IGP, which was being worked on.

According to him, the commissioner of police was investigating the complaints and only those connected by the investigation were being arrested.

Melaye, who spoke through his special assistant on media, Gideon Ayodele, said only those with record of criminality were being arrested, saying if they can prove their innocence they would be released.