Tension As Army Receives Threats Over Arresting Powerful Ex-Militant Leader

An ex-militant leader, Aboy Francis Muturu, has been arrested by soldiers suspected to be from the 4th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin, the Edo state capital. The former militant leader has been taken to an unknown destination and family members have been unable to communicate with him.

The militant leader, who is also known as General Aboy, was reportedly arrested in the presence of his breastfeeding wife in the early hours of Friday last week.

He was arrested at his residence in Bomadi Town of Delta state.
Following his arrest, Omes Ogedegbe, a prominent Warri lawyer and National coordinator of Conference for the actualisation of Human Right, has threatened legal action against the Nigerian Army.

In a letter to the Army Chief of Staff, Ogedegbe said:

“That upon the embrace of the amnesty programme, our client has long denounced militancy as he is currently the managing director of Vicmut Hotels Limited located in Bomadi main town with a laudable staff strength.
“That since the abduction of ex-militant General Aboy Francis Muturu on the 7th of June, 2016, the whereabouts of ex-General Aboy Francis Muturu has remained unknown neither has the family any clue as to his whereabouts save for the fact that Capt. Robert of the 222 battalion was part of the team.”

Ogedegbe claimed to be the lawyer to the former militant and issued the army a 48-hour ultimatum counting from Monday.

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