Detectives from the Police Headquarters in Abuja were in Yola, Adamawa State, yesterday where they quizzed the Governor Murtala Nyako over claims that the Federal Government is sponsoring genocide in the North.
The police officers who flew into the state were reportedly instructed to “interview” the governor in a mission that was described as ‘fact-finding’.
Under the 1999 Constitution, state governors, like the president, are immune from prosecution, a legal provision that the delegates at the ongoing National Conference have advocated its removal.
The governor had accused the Federal Government of murdering its citizens and immediately attributing such atrocities to the Boko Haram sect.
Nyako made the accusation in a memo entitled: ‘Ongoing Full-fledged Genocide in Northern Nigeria’, which he sent to his colleague-northern governors.
He accused President Goodluck Jonathan of using “mass murderers/cut-throats imbedded in our legitimate and traditional Defence and Security organisations.”
He had said: “The administration has also hired militia from all across especially North NANAfrica, who have been deceived into accepting to come because they were made to believe that they would be fighting infidels.”
When contacted last night, Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, said some officers were actually sent to Yola on a fact-finding mission.
He said they were detailed to interview the governor.
“Some of our people went to Yola to interview the governor. Some of our officers were there. They were on a fact-finding meeting with the governor,” he said, refusing to give further details.
The police had earlier in the week warned politicians against making inciting comments, saying freedom of speech goes with concomitant responsibilities.