Musdapha Ilo, Maiduguri

A group known as Borno Patriots has called for the immediate arrest of the former governor of Borno state, Ali Modu Sheriff, saying that efforts of the federal government towards ending insurgency in the Northeast would be in futility as long as he remains a free man.

The group threatened to embark on a mass protest that will shut down the North east if Sheriff is not arrested within the next seven days.

In a statement jointly signed by its chairman, Ibrahim Modu and secretary, Samuel Mshelizza, the group for as long as the former governor is free to move about, he will continue to frustrate the efforts of the military to end insurgency in the zone.

“If he is not arrested within seven days, we shall lead a mass protest of all members in the north east and widows of soldiers to shut down the northeast. We can no longer allow SAS to dance on the grave of Boko Haram victims and add salt to the injury of grieving mothers,” the group said.

It said that Sheriff’s visit to Kano to negotiate the release of the seized Russian plane containing ammunitions, is an insult on the people of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa and Nigerians in general choking under the cloak of insurgency.

“His acceptance of the fact that he was in Kano at the time in question is mockery of the Chibok girls and their suffering parents,” the Borno Patriots said.

But Sheriff in a statement Monday morning denied going to the airport to negotiate release of the seized plane and has challenged anyone with proof of his purported negotiation to tender such evidences.

Sheriff stated that at he was in Abuja attending a meeting at the time he was reported to be in Kano to negotiate the release of the aircraft.