Police arrests Gov Otti’s ex- campaign director over opposition to Abia airport project

The former Director of the Alex Otti campaign organization in 2019, Dr. Max Nduaguibe, has been arrested by the police in Abia State over his opposition to the proposed airport project in Nsulu, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government area of the state.

There were reports that over
40 policemen stormed Nduaguibe’s residence in Mbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday in an attempt to arrest him.

Nduaguibe expressed shock at the early morning raid and insisted that he didn’t receive any prior invitation from the police.

Speaking at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Umuahia, the state capital, Nduaguibe, a former national deputy chairman of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN), described the arrest as unwarranted and unsettling.

He said: “They came around 4:00 a.m., banging at my gate with over 40 policemen in four vans. They said they were arresting me over a petition but refused to clarify what the petition was about.

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“I asked them why they didn’t simply issue an invitation, but they refused to explain. Why come to my house at such an odd hour?

“They claimed I was inciting people against the Abia airport project in Nsulu, but I had never received a police invitation. This is an infringement on my fundamental rights. It is unacceptable in a democracy.”

Nduaguibe suggested that the police action could be related to his recent public criticism of the government’s alleged plans to seize land in Nsulu for the airport project.

However, he stressed that while he had voiced concerns, he had not personally participated in any protests.

“Is it a crime to stand against the government’s plans to forcibly take my people’s land? I’ve not been seen protesting. This seems like an attempt to silence me, but I cannot be intimidated,” he added.

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