By Peter Duru, Makurdi

A group known as the Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state has decried the arrest and detention of the lawmaker representing Katsina-Ala East State Constituency in the State Assembly, Mr. Jonathan Agbidyeh and called for his release.

Recall that the lawmaker was on March 18, 2024, arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, but the reason for his arrest has not been made public.

Addressing the media in Makurdi, the APC stakeholders through their spokesman, Chief Fanen Ihyongo, claimed that the lawmaker was being framed for a crime in order to remove him from the State Assembly.

They recalled that Mr. Agbidyeh was in recent time arrested after being accused of being behind the crimes in Sankera. “The arrest followed petitions written against him by his political foes.

“However, it should be noted that he was tried at the high court in Makurdi and discharged acquitted. The Certified True Copies of the proceedings and judgment are there as proof that all the charges against Agbidyeh were dropped, as he was not found guilty of the charges.

“We wish to inform the DSS and all security agencies as well as the general public that what is happening to Agbidyeh is a frame-up through series of onslaughts orchestrated by his political enemies within and outside the APC.

“While investigation is going on, we call for the release of  Agbidyeh. He has a lot of legislative functions and other things to attend to. He will not run.”

The group also voiced its concern over two videos in circulation alleged to have incriminated the lawmaker saying “We urge the DSS personnel to intensify their investigation and also probe thoroughly the suspected criminal aspect of the videos in question as there could be more to the videos than meets the eye.

“A hunter knows the difference between the paw prints of a wolf and those of a sheep. So, we have no doubt that the DSS, whose function is to prevent and detect crimes against internal security, will do the needful to unearth the truth.”

The Stakeholders at the briefing included a former Chairman of Katsina-Ala Local Government Council and Leader of the group, Mr. Martins Agir, former Chairman of APC in Katsina-Ala Local Government, Joseph Awuah, a former Special Assistant to the State Governor, Msughve Ayua, among others.

Reacting to the issue on the sidelines of a workshop for Local Government administrators in Makurdi, Governor Hyacinth Alia advised that security agencies should be allowed to do their jobs to tackle insecurity in the state.