Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), has called for the immediate arrest of Islamic clerics Sani Jingir and Ahmad Gumi over alleged inciting comments capable of worsening the country’s security situation.
Irabor also backed the police invitation of Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a controversial statement in which he was alleged to have directed his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party and their family members ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
The former military chief made the remarks on Thursday while appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, where he reacted to recent comments by political and religious leaders.
Irabor said individuals whose statements could incite violence should be promptly investigated and, where necessary, arrested.
“For me as a person, any time we hear individuals who make inciting comments, I think that such people should be picked up immediately. And that is why I am glad that even though the statement made by Senator Fadahunsi is a political one, I think that it also borders on incitement to violence.
“I think the police have done the right thing by inviting him, and he should be questioned even beyond that,” Irabor said.
Recall that Jingir had recently backed the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging Muslims to use their voting strength during elections and ensure that their votes reflect their numerical strength in the country.
He made the comment while addressing guests at a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples.
Reacting to Jingir’s remarks, Irabor described the cleric’s comments as potentially inflammatory and capable of adding to the security challenges facing the country.
“Added to that is, of course, the Sheikh in Kano, Sheikh Jingir, who also made some comments which, of course, I believe are also inciting and could also add to the bouquet of threats that we have.
“He also should be arrested, and I also believe that the various comments that someone like Gumi has been making also demand that he be called not just to order but, of course, invited and arrested in order to let the populace know that there is nobody who is above the law.
“When you say things that are not right, you should be called in to answer,” the former service chief said.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District in the Senate, was invited by the police on Wednesday following public backlash over a viral video containing the controversial remarks.
The senator later maintained that his comments had been edited and taken out of context to give them a different meaning.
However, Irabor said authorities must take firm action against inflammatory statements, arguing that doing so would discourage rhetoric capable of undermining peace and national security.
According to him, decisive action against inciting comments would also boost the morale of Nigeria’s defence and security personnel.