Sylva Faults Arrest, Detention Of Supporters

Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, has condemned the arrest and unlawful detention of 70 of his supporters in Lokoja, Kogi State.

The governor’s supporters were intercepted at about 5pm yesterday on their way to Abuja to show solidarity with the governor at the? hearing? of the case on tenure for five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors? at the Supreme court, yesterday.

Made up mainly of PDP ward chairmen, the supporters were traveling in six buses and a car. They were allegedly arrested and taken to the police headquarters in Lokoja where they were detained till 10.00 pm. Thereafter, they were left to fix their own accommodation for the night, and escorted forcefully to Okene to embark on a return journey to Bayelsa early yesterday.

In a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, Governor Sylva described the arrest as a sad reminder of Nigeria’s dark days of military rule.

“Our constitution allows for the freedom of movement for every Nigerian as well as freedom of association. This is another, in the series, of recent happenings by agents of the federal government to trample democracy in the face and truncate the rights of Bayelsa people to freely decide their political future,” he said.

The governor, however, pleaded with all his supporters to remain calm and law abiding in the face of undue provocation and gave the assurance assuring that “the will of God through the people of Bayelsa State shall surely prevail in the evolving political imbroglio in the state.”