Claiming to have uncovered a plot to poison Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, authorities have arrested cadres of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) including the secretary of the Forum, Mallam Bello Abdulkadir, and a secretariat staff member, Farouk Bibi Farouk.
Bello was released late Thursday but Farouk remains in detention.
Former senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, is being sought by the SSS for interrogation.
Ayu is reportedly visiting his home state of Benue. First secretary of the NPLF, Mallam Bashir Ibrahim Yusuf is also being actively sought in connection with the investigations.
NPLF sources claim they are being scapegoated by authorities who allegedly obtained a petition about a supposed meeting in Kaduna on Feb. 17 where a decision by the NPLF was taken to “poison” President Jonathan.
The group denies the allegations, and calls the clampdown an intimidation tactic by the Jonathan regime to beat down the opposition from the NPLF