TheCable

The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Victor Umeh, former national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

Jerry Obasi, APGA’s deputy secretary, confirmed this on Friday, alleging that the arrest was politically motivated.

Obasi said the DSS had become a willing tool in the hands of politicians.

“It is quite unfortunate that Nigerians, especially political stalwarts of other political parties are now branded names using government agencies like the DSS to intimidate opponents with a view to either stopping them from running for elections or to clamp down on their chances politically especially those whose chances of winning elections are obvious just as in the circumstances which Chief Umeh was arrested,” he said in a statement.

“It is quite absurd and alarming that the DSS deliberately whisked Chief Umeh away in a rickety van thereby bringing his personality to odium. The most disappointing of them all is the obvious fact that these black movies are being acted under the watchful eye of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is sad that security agencies under the present administration are willing tools in the hands of the highest bidder rather than concentrating on their constitutional duty of maintaining law and order.”

Umeh was arrested at his Anambra residence around 9am on Thursday and flown to Abuja.

He was accused of sponsoring the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Soveriegn State of Biafra (MASSOB).