Kaduna Government Obtains Bench Warrant Against Arewa Youths Over Quit Notice

- The Kaduna state government says it has obtained a bench warrant from the court to arrest the members of the group that asked Igbos to vacate the northern region before October 1 

- The media aide to Governor El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan, assures residents of the state that they have nothing to fear irrespective of their tribe 

- The government states that a court has directed the commissioner of police of the Kaduna state command to act on the criminal complaint against the group 

The Kaduna state government has asked anybody to inform the police if they sight members of the coalition of northern youths that issued a quit notice to Igbo people residing in the north. The government said it had obtained a bench warrant from the court to arrest members of the group that asked Igbos to vacate the region before October 1, 2017.

This was disclosed by Governor El-Rufai’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, Samuel Aruwan, in an address at the government house in Kaduna on Thursday, September 28, The Punch reports.

The Kaduna state government also assured residents that they had nothing to fear irrespective of their tribe, adding that law enforcement and security agencies are taking necessary action to prevent any threat to peace.

“The Kaduna State Government notes with commendation the efforts of the residents of our diverse state to uphold peace in their communities. “The government and the security agencies are working to prevent any threat to this cherished harmony.

“Vigorous security patrols will continue as part of concrete action to reassure residents and demonstrate that bad behaviour is unwelcome and will not be tolerated. “When some elements barged into our state capital to deliver an illegal ultimatum to a section of our community, the government condemned it and ordered the arrest of those concerned. 

“The Kaduna State Government followed up with a formal criminal complaint to the police, and has obtained a bench warrant against them. Therefore, anybody that sights them or is aware of their location should proudly discharge the civic duty of informing the police." The government listed sections of the updated Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017 which it said the coalition violated by issuing the ultimatum.

These include: 

1. Inciting Disturbance: Section 78 

2. Disturbing Public Peace: Section 77 

3. Injurious Falsehood: Section 373 

4. Unlawful Assembly: Section 66 

5. Criminal Conspiracy: Section 59 

The government said a court had directed the commissioner of police of the Kaduna state command to act on the criminal complaint against the group. It advised anybody contemplating unlawful action to know that such will invite strong law-enforcement response. 

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has reportedly placed officers of the organisation on red alert ahead of the October 1 quit notice given to the Igbos as fear grows over what could happen as the date draws close. 

Part of the plan is to flood the entire country with police officers ahead of the date and beyond it. According to The Nation, the strategy adopted by IGP Idris is to ensure that the quit notice and counter threats from the various groups in the country are not actualised