Kogi State Government yesterday called on the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and other security agencies to invite activist, Mrs. Natasha Uduaghan, for questioning over alleged terrorism involvement.
Mrs. Uduaghan, who’s the Senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi West in the forthcoming general elections was accused by the government of fuelling terror in the state.
Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, made the allegation while speaking as a guest on a television programme following Mrs. Uduaghan’s call for the release of one Safiu, arrested on allegations of terrorism.
The Nation reports that Safiu was rearrested last week by security operatives at Trademore Estate in Abuja, and was currently being interrogated over his alleged involvement in several terror attacks in Kogi and other parts of the country.
But the politician who was also a guest in the programme dismissed the allegations against her, insisting Governor Yahaya Bello was trying to discredit her as a result of her political strength.
Mrs. Uduaghan alleged that she had received information from sourced within the state government that Bello was trying to plant explosives, other incriminating weapons at her country residence in order to stage a public search, retrieve them and accuse her of fuelling terrorism in the state.
She said they had since petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG) Usman Alkali and other security agencies after the got information about the governor’s plans.
She noted that her petition to the security agencies was long before the re-arrest of Safiu. She also denied having any ties with the arrested suspect, insisting that her call for his release was based on her believe that he was being hounded for leaving the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The politician said the governor was afraid of her popularity and so looking for ways to dent her reputation.
Fanwo who also issued a statement said the government was worried about deliberate grooming and importation of terrorists by politician despite heavy secueity interventions to rid the state of the menace.
He said Mrs Natasha Uduaghan had exhibited enough actions to be invited over terrorism-related activities, especially with the manner by which the PDP and organisations linked to her had been advocating for the release of Safiu.