Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd.), has called for the arrest and investigation of Islamic clerics Sani Jingir and Ahmad Gumi over comments he described as potentially inflammatory and capable of worsening Nigeria’s security challenges.
Irabor also backed the police invitation of Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a controversial statement allegedly calling on his supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party and their family members ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday, the former military chief said authorities should promptly investigate individuals whose public statements could incite violence.
“For me as a person, any time we hear individuals who make inciting comments, I think that such people should be picked up immediately,” Irabor said.
He said the police acted appropriately by inviting Fadahunsi for questioning, arguing that the senator’s alleged remarks bordered on incitement to violence and warranted further investigation.
Irabor also criticised comments attributed to Jingir, who had recently expressed support for the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the presidential election.
Jingir made the remarks while speaking at a mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples, where he urged Muslims to use their voting strength and ensure that their votes reflected their numerical strength in the country.
Reacting to the statement, Irabor described it as potentially inflammatory and urged authorities to take appropriate action.
“Added to that is of course the Sheik in Kano, Sheik Jingir, who also made some comments which of course I believe are also inciting, that could also add to the bouquet of threats that we have,” he said.
The former service chief also called for authorities to examine previous comments attributed to Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi, saying he should be invited to explain statements considered capable of undermining public order.
Irabor stressed that nobody should be considered above the law, adding that individuals who make statements capable of threatening peace should be held accountable.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, was invited by the police on Wednesday following public backlash over a viral video allegedly containing the controversial remarks.
The senator subsequently maintained that his comments had been edited and presented out of context.
Irabor, however, said authorities needed to respond firmly to inflammatory rhetoric to discourage statements that could threaten peace and national security.
He added that decisive action against inciting comments would also strengthen the confidence and morale of Nigeria’s defence and security personnel.
