The Zamfara State All Progressives Congress has condemned what it termed as unlawful invasion of ex-governor, Bello Matawalle’s residence in his hometown.
The party described the invasion as a “gross violation of sections 34, 35, 37, 41, 42 and 43 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
In a statement on Friday, the APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris, said there was no law in the country that gave the police, the DSS, or any other security outfit the right to, without notice nor warrant, invade on any citizen’s property”.
He stressed that the police and the DSS have acted wrongly and could be accused of being political in their actions.
The statement read, “If the government thinks it has any case against the former Governor why not charge him to court instead of resorting to such barbaric and uncivilized means?.
“We call on the Nigerian Police Force and Department of State Service (DSS) as a matter of urgency, to take a decisive stand against this misadventure by Zamfara state Government, and the perpetrators must be identified and made to face the dire consequences of their action.
“To say the least, the action which is said to have been directed by Governor of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal is archaic, barbaric, brutal, unacceptable, and an illegal trespass on the former governor’s property in Gusau and his hometown Maradun.
“There is no law in the country that gave the police, the DSS, or any other security outfit the right to, without notice nor warrant, invade any citizen’s property.
“Similarly, no governor of a state under whatever guise, reason, or purpose has the right to, without notice invade on other people’s property.
“The police and the DSS in Zamfara acted in error and can be accused of being political in their actions, which we want an immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police to direct for an immediate investigation and prosecution of those who carried out the illegal act of breaking into the two residences of Zamfara State APC leader and former Governor Bello Matawalle.
“Currently, the Police have barricaded roads to his Gusau residence and police have been stationed in all the residences.
“We also call on the Inspector General of Police to direct the immediate arrest of the stationed police officers and verify why they were deployed.
“The former governor has several times said he has nothing to hide anywhere, but legal means must be deployed before carrying out any action against him or his property.
“We urge the police and all sister security agencies and their agents to trade political grounds with caution as we cannot condone such action, especially in our dear state, which has deteriorating security challenges.”
Earlier in the day, there were reports that heavily armed security personnel stormed the residence of Matawalle in his hometown of Maradun and removed several vehicles.
An indigene of the town, Mohammed Ahmed, who spoke with our correspondent said the security agents who were in large numbers consisted of police and the DSS invaded the house of the former governor where they jacked up many vehicles and took them to the police station in Maradun town.
According to Ahmed, immediately after the security agents arrived in Maradun town, they moved straight to the former governor’s residence and started evacuating the vehicles.
“The security agents who were mostly in police uniforms came to the former governor’s residence in the afternoon of today and forced the gate opened.
“They went into the house, removed several vehicles, and took them to the police station here in Maradun town.
“I counted 15 vehicles that were removed from the house and taken to the police station”.
“As I am talking to you now, the security agents who are mostly in police uniform are in the house searching for other items,” Ahmed said.
Efforts to talk to the police public relations Officer SP Yazid Abubakar failed as he refused to pick up the phone calls after several attempts.
Matawalle’s successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, had during his inaugural speech expressed disgust that his predecessor took many vehicles and left an empty treasury.
Meanwhile, Matawalle has been out of the state since he lost the election.
