A sister to the leader of
the Indigenous People of Biafra has the manner at which she and some other
members of her family faced in the hands of some soldiers.
Princess
Tonia Kanu while speaking to NAIJ.com said she had gone to Kuje prison to pay
her brother a visit on Tuesday, September 6, when 14 security operatives – 12
soldiers and 2 others on mufti – accosted her and some other family members.
Princess said: “Actually what really happened
is that I went to Kuje to see my brother as usual! Coincidentally I met three
of my uncles there… They also came to see my brother and they had already
filled their form.”
She said because her uncles were
at the facility before her, they were also privileged to meet with Kanu before
it was her turn.
“After they finished with him,
on their way coming out I was about going in… they told me not to be in a haste
that my brother have told them to wait for me so they can drop me in any close
place for me to pick a cab and go home,” Princess said.
Continuing, Kanu’s sister said
after the visitation, there had just left the facility when the heavily armed
men with a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number BV 718 RSH double
crossed them.
“They ordered all of us to come down and enter their own vehicle,
which we did and they kept us there for more than 30mins until my uncle asked
one of the officers to explain what was happening and what our offence was.
Princess said the officer in
question said they should remain quiet and exercise patience as they will be
well informed of their offence when they get to where they would be taken to.
“So, immediately I wanted to make a call with my phone but then,
they asked me not to try it.
“Then one of the men on mufti said we look familiar (me and my
uncle), he said it seems he sees me on TV. That was when my uncle, Emeka
Ndumele told him that he is Nnamdi Kanu’s brother,” Kanu’s
sister said.
“They left us in the bus with the armed soldiers while they went
to one corner to make calls. After a very long call, they came back and said we
should drop our mobile phone numbers and addresses.
Princess told NAIJ.com that they
obeyed the officer directive, without argument.
She said the officers also informed them they were acting on “orders from above”.
She also said although the
security officer did not beat or try to torture them, she felt embarrassed and
disappointed.
“One of the officers had Ejiofor on his name tag, I don’t know
what they want from us, if they want my brother to die of hunger there because
I am the one that goes there to know what he needs almost every day.
“Although they never mentioned my brother’s name…but according to
my uncles when they were inside the prison with him, the one on mufti was
working around there monitoring them and their discussion with my brother.
“Then he sat beside them as if he is also waiting to see his own
inmate, not knowing he was probably there as an informant. It was when those
soldiers surrounded us then he appear from behind a building and he was also
the one making all the calls.
Despite the ordeal, Sonia said: “The incident cannot stop me
from going to visit my brother in Kuje, unless they want him to die
there.”
Attempts to reach army
spokesperson Sani Usman on the incident was futile as his mobile line did not
connect.
Also Usman is yet to reply an
inquiry sent to his phone on the matter.
But counsel to Kanu, who spoke to
NAIJ.com said the incident was a total ambush and hostage situation perpetrated
by the military.
Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor said: “A
team of soldiers numbering about 12, fully armed to the teeth apparently acting
through an informant was trailing Nnamdi Kanu’s family members.”
Stating that the team of soldiers
were led by one Major Yushau, Ejiofor said the news of temporary abducted of
Princess and her family member is shocking.
“It is to say the least, the height of brazen violation of our
laws. While under prison custody, the law allows all inmates including Nnamdi
Kanu to receive visitors including family members, provided that the visitors
subject themselves to requisite security screening before gaining entrance,” Ejiofor, Kanu’s lawyer said.
He further noted that all
intending visitors are also to be guided by the rules and regulations
operational in the prison custody.
“This development is a clear attempt to ban Nnamdi kanu from
receiving visitors including his family members, as the intendment is to instil
fears on people that may wish to pay him visit.
“When this is achieved, his life will then be exposed to more
dangers in detention. Especially, against the backdrop of visible but repeated
threats to his life.
“We must challenge this abduction, intimidation and harassment in
a court of law, as it is a clear violation of the constitutional rights of the
citizens that paid him visit.
“We are still investigating further details provided with a view
to coming up with the appropriate cause of action, deserving in the
circumstance. This lawlessness and impunity must stop.
“We find it extremely unacceptable as it offends all known
democratic norms,” he concluded.
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