The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has confirmed the release of its operatives arrested by the Police after the group captured suspected Fulani warlord, Iskilu Wakili.
The OPC National Coordinator and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams confirmed the release in a statement on Tuesday.
He noted that despite the unjust experience of his people in the hands of the police, the OPC will continue to collaborate with security operatives to arrest criminals in the southwest and ensure the region remains calm and peaceful.
It will be recalled as previously reported by Naija News that three members of OPC who were part of the team that captured Wakili on Sunday were arrested and taken into custody by the police for alleged murder and arson during the capture of the embattled warlord.
They were eventually released on Tuesday after much public outcry.
The detained OPC members are Dauda Kazeem, Awodele Adedigba, and Ramon Hassan.
Reacting to the development and the release of the OPC members, in particular, Chief Adams in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said the group will not be demoralized by what transpired.
Adams said, “It is most important news is that the police had released our men in their custody, and it is great. I want to appreciate everybody that have raised their voices against the unjust detention, including well-meaning Nigerians, public opinion experts, socio-cultural groups, such as Afenifere, Yoruba Summit Group and the media for their support while the situation lasts.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the OPC will continue to support and complement the efforts of all security agencies, including the police in ensuring that the South-West is safe.”
Meanwhile, foremost rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the arrest of a popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi for alleging that non-Muslim soldiers were responsible for the attacks against bandits.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA berated the Nigerian Army for failing to take practical and law-based action against Gumi.
The right group also knocked the Nigerian Army for not protecting its image, integrity, and credibility, thereby allowing to bring the institution to disrepute.
It, however, described the remarks by Gumi wherein he cast aspersions on Christian soldiers in the country as “incitement to violence.”