BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
Lafia
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has alleged harassment and intimidation of a House of Representatives aspirant in Nasarawa State, Hon. Terry Tsala, by the state director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Hassan Abdullahi.
In a statement issued on Monday, the forum’s National Publicity Officer, Luka Binniyat, said the DSS director was targeting the aspirant over what he described as a lawful attempt to acquire a locally made hunting gun for self-defence amid rising insecurity in the area.
Tsala is seeking to represent Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Wamba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Binniyat said the aspirant recently procured a locally made hunting gun from a licensed maker, describing the move as a common practice among residents of communities facing persistent attacks.
He, however, alleged that the situation escalated when the DSS director ordered Tsala’s arrest over claims that he ordered five hunting rifles—an allegation the aspirant has denied.
According to him, Tsala has been summoned several times to the DSS office in Lafia and is being pressured to admit to claims he insists are false.
“Hunting guns are not illegal when properly obtained,” Binniyat said, adding that citizens have the right to take reasonable steps to protect themselves.
The forum also accused the DSS director of acting in the interest of those behind attacks in the Middle Belt, alleging that such actions could leave residents more vulnerable.
Binniyat said Nasarawa State has increasingly become a base for attacks on neighbouring states, including Benue, Plateau, Taraba, Kogi and parts of southern Kaduna.
He further noted what he described as a contradiction between the actions of the state DSS leadership and recent remarks by the DSS Director-General, Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, who had urged communities to serve as the first line of defence against insecurity.
The forum called on the federal government to establish a regulated system that would allow citizens lawful access to basic means of self-defence.
It also urged international stakeholders, including the United States, to pay attention to the situation in the Middle Belt.
Binniyat warned that the forum would hold the DSS director responsible if anything happens to the aspirant.
Efforts to get a response from the DSS in Nasarawa State were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Efforts to get a response from the DSS in Nasarawa State were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
