The Governor of Kebbi State, Nasiru Idris, has sent a delegation to Benin Republic to discuss the release of 10 indigenes of the state arrested and detained by security operatives in the country.
It was gathered that they were tagged members of the notorious Boko Haram sect.
The 10 arrested Kebbi indigenes who are all from Dandi Local Government Area of the state were identified as Yusha’u Mohammed (38), Surajo Likita (25), Suleiman Usman (25), Ibrahim Umar (29), Nazifi Tahiru (18), Babangida Aliu (30), Usama Kabiru (25), Babawo Mohammed (35), Hamisu Dan Ashibi (25) and Ibrahim Rilwanu (25).
They were reportedly arrested at Kaini Tunga village of Benin Republic by the country’s security operatives while returning home from Benin Republic on Thursday June 1.
The Kebbi State Government said that Benin Republic’s security personnel tagged them “Boko Haram sect members,” adding that their monies, phones and other valuables were forcefully taken away from them before they were taken to an unknown detention facility in Cotonou, Benin Republic, noting that all efforts to locate them had failed.
Daily Trust reported that the government delegation, headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Shafiu Abubakar, has met with the Ambassador, Federal Republic of Nigeria to Benin Republic in Benin and presented a letter to the ambassador seeking his input towards the release of the Nigerians.
Governor Idris charged the delegation to “explore all avenues within the ambit of the law to rescue the affected persons alongside their possessions”.
