Why We Arrested Ex-Kogi Gov. Abubakar Audu's Son and Family Members - Police Opens Up

Following the widely reported news of the arrest of Abubakar Audu's son, the police has reacted to the story.

Men of the Nigeria Police Force

Earlier today we reported that the police had arrested family members of the late Abubakar Audu, an ex governor of Kogi State.

The incident left many people wondering why the police would do a thing like that.

Now,the police has come out to give an explanation.

According to PremiumTimes, a spokesperson for the police in that state has revealed that family members of late Governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi State were arrested by the police for alleged “culpable homicide, robbery and mischief".

Mr. Audu’s eldest son, Mohammed, and some 15 other family members were arrested on Wednesday.

The spokesperson, who merely identified himself as ASP Ovye, confirmed the arrest on Thursday morning. He had earlier said he needed time to contact the relevant police unit for information on the arrest.

According to him He said the arrests were effected by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.

Premium Times reports that Mr. Ovye did not give details. He advised further questions be directed to the state Commissioner of Police, Abdullahi Ibrahim.

Contacted, Mr. Ibrahim said the police were “still investigating” the matter.

“It’s after investigation that we will tell you,” he told Premium Times. “What I know is that they were reported and we acted.”

Asked when the arrested persons would be charged to court, he said “when we complete investigation”. He declined further comments.

However, according to Premium Times, it is understood that the arrests followed an attack on Mr. Audu’s younger brother.

Yahaya Audu, the late governor’s brother, represented the family at the Kogi State’s 25th anniversary ceremony on August 28.

Premium Times reports that he was physically attacked on his return to Ogbonicha, the ancestral home of the Audus in Ofu Local Government Area, by community members aggrieved with Governor Yahaya Bello’s government.

A day after the anniversary ceremony, Mohammed, late Audu’s eldest son, in a statement on behalf of the family, mocked the governor and said he should have used resources meant for the ceremony to pay workers.

The Audu family believes Mr. Bello “ordered” the arrests, Mustapha Audu, Mohammed’s younger brother, said.

But Mr. Bello denied masterminding the arrests in a statement yesterday.

He said the police should be free to work, and that politics should not be linked with criminality.

According to Premium Times, Mohammed Audu is fighting through the courts alongside James Faleke to remove Mr. Bello as Kogi Governor.