TheCable

Some policemen invaded the Abuja residence of Edwin Clark, an Ijaw national leader, around 1:30pm on Tuesday.

The security operatives, who presented a search warrant to the elder statesman, reportedly spent over two hours at his residence.

Speaking with TheCable, Clark said he was not informed ahead of the operation. The Ijaw leader said nothing incriminating was found in his house.

“There was no notice before the search. The policemen just walked in and demanded to search the house,” he said.

“When they came, my secretary wasn’t around and they did not have access to the office because it was locked but they insisted that the office must be opened. They eventually searched the place but didn’t find anything incriminating.

“They searched my bedroom too… we allowed them to do their job.”

Asked if he was targetted for his criticism of the current administration, he said: “That is exactly what is happening. They want to militarise the whole country because they do not want opposition.”

He said his lawyers would take up the matter.

Reacting to the incident, Oweilaemi Pereotubor, president of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), said Nigeria is gradually descending into a full-blown anarchy.

“This is dangerous for our democracy. Nigeria is heading to the cliff. Relevant stakeholders need to rise in defence of our hard earned democracy. President Buhari should call his overbearing security agencies to order before they plunge the Country into an unmitigated crisis,” he said in a statement.

“There can be no democracy where there is no dissenting voices. Mr. President should accept that our democracy cannot exist without opposition elements to his government. Chief Clarke who is an elder statesman, his views on national issues need to be appreciated by the Government of the day instead of being witch hunted.”