The Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday, confirmed that its operatives at the Kaduna office invited an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi for questioning to aid an ongoing investigation. The Service, however, said the Islamic cleric was released after interacting with the operatives.
DSS spokesman, Peter Afunnaya, who confirmed the development to The Guardian in Abuja, said, “it’s not out of place for the Service to invite any person of interest.”
Anaya, however, did not give details of the investigation Gumi was invited to aid. But it is believed that his invitation was not unconnected with his recent open allegation that the Nigerian military colludes with the bandits terrorising many parts of the country.
The Islamic cleric had while speaking during a programme on Arise TV last Wednesday, questioned the source of the weapons used by bandits, alleging that security agents were collaborating with them to kill and kidnap for ransom.
“These bandits are operating with a lot of people in the security system. This is business, otherwise, how can these big weapons they use cross the borders into the country if money is not exchanging hands,” the cleric had said.
In its response to Gumi’s allegation, the military, in a statement by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, titled ‘Nigerian Army not Colluding with Bandits’, denied the allegation.
“It is essential to remind ourselves that this same military, being accused of connivance, are the ones who recently put their lives on the line to rescue abductees of the Government Secondary School, Birnin Yauri from kidnappers.
“While the Nigerian Army will not attempt to excuse the possibility of black sheep amongst its fold, it must be stated unambiguously that it will not condone any form of sabotage or aiding and assisting the enemy by any personnel,” he said.
Gumi’s spokesman, Malam Tukur Mamu, had in an interview with VOA Hausa, earlier yesterday, debunked the statement credited to the cleric, saying there was nowhere in the television interview Gumi categorically accused the entire military.
According to Mamu, what Gumi said was what people have been saying, adding, “even the soldiers have been saying that there could be some bad eggs amongst them.”
He, therefore, urged the military and the television station to apologise to Gumi and retract the statements made against him or else he would seek legal redress.
Meanwhile, the cleric yesterday clarified that he was not arrested by the DSS as reported in some sections of the media but was only invited to clarify his visits to armed bandits amid the security challenges bedeviling the country.
