Bashir Saidu, the former Chief of Staff to ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has been arrested by the state’s anti-banditry police outfit, Operation Fushin Kada, previously known as Operation Yaki. The arrest, carried out on Tuesday, took place on the outskirts of Kaduna.
While the exact charges remain undisclosed, there are allegations linking Saidu to money laundering. Sources close to the embattled politician, however, claim the arrest is politically motivated, aimed at targeting allies of the former governor.
A former commissioner under El-Rufai’s administration, who requested anonymity, confirmed Saidu’s arrest and subsequent remand in a correctional facility.
“It is true that he was arrested on Tuesday by the operatives and is now in a correctional facility. Is this the democracy we want, where Operation Yaki is used to detain political opponents?” the source queried. He further alleged that several of El-Rufai’s allies were facing various charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, EFCC, or ICPC, describing it as a coordinated political assault.
Efforts to reach the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered. Similarly, Governor Uba Sani’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibraheem Musa, did not respond to a text message seeking clarification.
However, a security source familiar with the case dismissed claims of political persecution. “The Nigeria Police Force, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution and the Police Act, is empowered to arrest, investigate, and prosecute individuals accused of any offence, provided there is a prima facie case against them,” the source explained.
Addressing allegations of political harassment, the source added, “To claim that Operation Fushin Kada, established to combat banditry and criminality, is being used to harass political opponents is not only baseless but an attempt to divert attention from the serious allegations against the accused.”
As the situation unfolds, the arrest has sparked intense political debate, with both sides trading accusations over the intent and implications of the operation.
