I stand by my words, Apostle Suleman insists

THE General Overseer of. the  Omega Fire Ministry International, Apostle Johnson Suleman on Monday declared that he stood his ground on the statements he made against the ravaging Fulani Herdsmen, saying that he would repeat it again anywhere any time

Apostle Suleiman who stated this in Abuja yesterday while fielding questions with newsmen on his invitation by the Department of State Services (DSS), on his comment ,said that he was actually in Abuja to honour the nation’s Secret police invitation

According to the cleric, “actually I’m in Abuja to honour DSS’s invitation . It is true I made the statement and I am ready to repeat again.

“I got some intelligence reports that some Fulani herdsmen were coming to attack and I asked the people to act in self defence.

“Even the constitution of Nigeria allows for self defence and called on Christians and non Christians alike not to allow themselves to slaughtered.”

The DSS had invited the cleric as he was quoted to have said: “Any Fulani Herdsman you see around you, kill him, I have told them in the church here that any Fulani herdsman that just entered by mistake kill him, Kill him, cut his head if they are busy killing Christians over there and nothing is happening, we will kill them and nothing will happen.”

However, contrary to his promise that he was in Abuja to honour the invitation extended to him by the DSS, the cleric was yet to be seen at the Yellow House Headquarters of the DSS as at the Press time.

One of the cleric’s aides only came around to instruct the hundreds of members of the church who had gathered within the vicinity of the DSS building as early as 8 00am to return to the Abuja branch of the church for further consultation.

Scores of Journalists who had been keeping vigil at the DSS office stayed put, waiting for the next action while several lawyers who had been around in solidarity with the cleric later retreated

Also, addressing newsmen on the matter, the President of the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria, Mr David Daniel, dismissed the allegation levelled against Apostle Suleiman.

Daniel, while pointing out that the allegation against the cleric was false, insisted that the allegation was “a premeditated tool to achieve a long time ambition.”

This came just as several armed soldiers, personnel of DSS, regular and anti-riot policemen condoned off the vicinity of the DSS headquarters with several Armoured Personnel Carriers and operational vehicles mobilised to the scene for any eventuality.

The armed soldiers from the elitist Guards Brigade along with their counterparts from the Police and DSS took strategic positions from the federal secretariat through the SGF gate to the back gate of the Aso Rock Presidential gate down to the popular AYA highways.

Around 4.30pm, the numbers of the armed security personnel started reducing while the APCs were also being taken away, which one of the security officers told our reporter that it was a sign that the interrogation might not be possible.