Politics

Again, Police Arrest Dino Melaye, Transfers Him to SARS Facility

Embattled Nigerian Senator Dino Melaye, who was arrested yesterday by the Nigerian Police on a Morocco bound flight, has been arrested again after a 24-hour siege to his home in Abuja.

The Nigerian Senator representing Kogi West in the red chamber, was reportedly taken to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad facility where he would be grilled for allegedly arming some thugs to disrupt Kogi State.

Punch reported that the Nigerian police had claimed that Melaye was being sought for not honouring the summons extended to him, even though he had earlier said that he would make himself available to the police today.

Dino Melaye via his Twitter handle some minutes ago, shortly before he was arrested and forcefully taken away by the police, tweeted;

“I will make myself available to the police today. My resolve to speak the truth and defend the poor masses of NIGERIA is Total. We shall overcome!!!,” he posted.

Dino Melaye’s second arrest, came after he alleged that there is a plan to kill him. Writing on his Twitter page, Melaye revealed that policemen attached to him were disarmed and withdrawn on Monday.

The security aides were taken away after Sadiq Bello, police commissioner in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), arrived at Melaye’s residence hours after his men and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) laid siege to the place.

“We are in a civil society. No warrant and case is in court yet this lawlessness. I’m a responsible Nigerian and law abiding. There is a plan to kill me and I know about it.

“We are not in a banana Republic. I cannot be silenced. @BBCBreaking AFRICA @BBCBreaking.

“All my policemen have been taken away with their arms. One CP came and took them away. There is also a plan to set me up again. But in God I trust. Truth will always prevail,” Melaye tweeted.

The senator had denied wrongdoing, saying his ordeal was politically-motivated.

His arrest generated widespread reaction from Nigerians Monday morning. While some welcomed it as deserving of a controversial lawmaker like Sen. Melaye, others criticised the arrest as an act of executive recklessness.

The development could further surprise Nigerians who have long been shocked, at the police’s apparent failure to enforce their own arrest warrant. Mr Melaye was declared wanted over a month ago, but he still had at least two police officers in his security detail.