By Chizoba Ogbeche
Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri has said that the arrest Sunday of 486 travellers in Ukwa West local government area of Abia state was not religiously or politically motivated.
Addressing journalists, yesterday at the NIC, Abuja, he said the arrest of 486 was a fall-out of government’s determination to ensure a safe and secure nation, rather than impute ethnic or religious coloration.
He said: “While further screening by security agencies is continuing on the travellers, it has become necessary to reiterate that when security agencies noticed the unusual movement of 35 buses at that time of the night in one direction, the interception became necessary.
“It is not targeted at anyone, region or religion. For all expectations, the passengers are all assumed to be Nigerians until proven otherwise. The suspect earlier arrested among the travellers is still undergoing interrogation by security operatives.”
Omeri, the director-general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), urged all especially well placed Nigerians to restrain themselves from uninformed comments and assumptions that mislead the general public.
Blueprint, however, reliably gathered that the suspects had been transferred to Abuja and the kingpin arrested alongside the suspects had been giving useful information to security operatives, even as he reportedly might have implicated some prominent Nigerians.
On the Chibok girls, the DG said the fderal government was determined to rescue the girls safely and was working hard to ensure that peace and stability was achieved.
