TheCable

The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised the police for raiding the houses of Bello Matawalle, ex-governor of the state.

The state government said it recovered 40 official vehicles from Matawalle after police officers conduct the raid.

Yusuf Idris, Zamfara APC publicity secretary, in a statement issued on Saturday, described the raid as a “violation”.

The party said the state government should charge Matawalle to court if it has a case against him rather than resorting to such an “uncivilised act”.

“The unlawful invasion is a gross violation of the sacred provisions of Sections 34, 35, 37, 41, 42 and 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended,” the party said.

“What exactly might have warranted the invasion still remains a mystery to the good people of Zamfara State.

“If the government thinks it has any case against the former governor why not charge him to court instead of resorting to such barbaric and uncivilized means.”

The APC appealed to the leadership of the NPF “to caution their personnel against such misadventure and punish those who took part in the alleged invasion“.

“We appeal to the Inspector-General of Police  (IGP) to order the immediate investigation and prosecution of all those who carried out the illegal act of breaking into the two residences of the Zamfara State APC leader and former Gov. Bello Matawalle,” the party added.

“We also call on the IGP to order the immediate arrest of those personnel stationed at the two residences of the former governor.

“The former governor has several times said he has nothing to hide anywhere but legal means must be deployed before carrying out any action against him or his property.

“We urge the police and all sister security agencies and their personnel to tread political grounds with caution as we cannot condone such action, especially in our dear state, which has deteriorating security challenges.”