TheCable

A group known as the Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness (CISA) says there is a plot to pit northern senators against their constituents.

The group was reacting to a call by some protesters under the Save Nigeria Movement to investigate an allegation that a senator from the north is linked to banditry and kidnapping.

There have been reports that an unnamed ranking senator is working with the terrorists to abduct and kill citizens across the country.

The upper legislative chamber has yet to comment on the claim.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Kabeer Salami, CISA’s assistant coordinator, said the federal government should not be distracted by the allegations.

“We urge Nigerian leadership not to allow any group engaging in frivolities to distract them from attending to essential legislative and national matters,” Salami said.

“However, it is most unfortunate that some unpatriotic Nigerians buoyed by their diabolic intentions are not leaving any stone unturned in their quests to polarize the country and incite Nigerians against their fellow citizens – for no good reasons.

“Citizens, also, must shun fraternizing with ethnic champions and pseudo-religious leaders bent on polarizing us.

“We cannot allow them to pitch us against one another, just as they are vainly trying to do now – by setting Northern Senators and the rest of their elite against the general public.”

Salami said the security agencies should arrest and prosecute any group attempting to defame other Nigerians for selfish reasons.