The Borno State Police Command has arrested 4 members of the Borno Fish Marketers and Producers Elders Forum for allegedly planning a protest in Maiduguri, on Saturday.
The arrests came after security operatives disrupted the forum’s planned congress meeting last week in Maiduguri Metropolitan council.
The meeting was reportedly intended to impeach the current forum executives, led by Abatcha Mandalama, over allegations of misappropriating revenue funds and unlawfully extending their tenure.
ASP Nahum Daso Kenneth stated that the police presence at the meeting was to protect lives and property and to enforce a court order prohibiting the unlawful gathering.
During the operation, police allegedly took over 40 rented plastic chairs, which the forum members had planned to return after the meeting.
The forum members initially visited the police headquarters to inquire about the missing chairs but ended up being detained.
According to a reliable source, the four members have been held at the Borno State Police Headquarters for three days.
“Unfortunately, when they went to the police headquarters to inquire about the chairs, they were arrested.”
“The arrested members were given a paper to sign, undertaking not to plan any such congress again, but they refused to sign,” the source said.
“The arrests have raised concerns among the fish marketing and production community in Borno, with many calling for the release of the detained members and an investigation into the allegations against the executives.”
Last month, members of the fishers’ association called on Governor Zulum to intervene and help resolve the ongoing crisis within their ranks.
They sought his assistance in addressing the issues that were causing division and conflict among the members of the association.
