Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State wants the Federal Government to immediately secure the release of a Nigerian Pastor, Kunle Garb who, according to him, is currently languishing in detention in Benin Republic.
Governor Abiodun who made the call in a statement in Abeokuta explained that Pastor Garb, a resident of Igbokofi village, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, was abducted at the village market by Beninoise Police who crossed illegally into the Nigerian territory.
In the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kunle Somorin, Governor Abiodun described Pastor Garb as an activist who had consistently campaigned against incessant harassment of Nigerians by the Beninoise in the attempts to forcefully annex the Nigerian territory.
He also called for prompt action by the relevant Federal authorities to prevent further harassment of Nigerians and encroachment on the Nigerian territorial borders.
Governor Abiodun who also called on the National Boundary Commission to clearly demarcate Nigeria’s international borders with Benin Republic, urged Nigeria’s security agents to properly secure Nigerians in the border communities.
According to reports, Pastor Kunle Garb was arrested on 24 June in a gestapo manner by the gendarmes and detained in inhuman conditions.
On Thursday 30 June, Garb was let off the hook by a court, only to be re-arrested, along with his interpreter, Benjamin Amosu by the gendarmes.
Garb and Amosu were now said to have been detained in a prison in Ajase, Port Novo Area of Benin Republic.
This has infuriated Yewa North Patriotic Forum, which said Garb was being intimidated because he was fighting the encroachment of Nigeria’s border by Benin Republic.
YNPF President, Omobolaji Oluwafisayomi Sanni said:
“Benin Republic Government has encrouched Nigeria Land over 40 miles inwardly at Igbokofi, Yewa North Local Government Council Area, Ogun State and Pastor Kunle Garb has been in defence of the Nigerian territory against Benin Republic Government”.
