Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, failed to arrest Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) on Thursday, April 5, 2018, Vanguard reports.
The senator, who was declared wanted by the police over his implication in handing over illegal weapons to some kidnappers who claimed to be his thugs, was attending the 8th fidau prayers for late deputy majority leader of the House of Representatives, Buba Jubril, in Lokoja, Kogi state, when the security agents reportedly arrived.
It was learnt that the lawmaker was however protected from arrest by local vigilante men who encircled him, making it impossible for the SARS operatives to get close to him.
The senator reportedly stole the show, raising two fingers in the air, to great cheers from the crowd. After the prayer session, the local vigilantes led Melaye into the waiting vehicle of the Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, who had also attended the event.
The SARS operatives reportedly subsequently besieged the house of Chief Rasaq Kutepa, which was the venue of the reception; but were disappointed as the senator had left for Obajana airstrip for a flight to Kastina, in Saraki’s convoy.
At the fidau prayer session earlier, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, leader of the House of Representatives, had stated that Jubril’s death left him in tears.
He said: “He was a personal friend, a leader and a colleague; we learned a lot from each other, we are going to miss him. I am trying to absorb the shock in my system. You can see the amazing crowd at the prayer; that is a testament to the kind of person he was.
“Politicians should continue to work hard with commitment and just do the best and leave the rest. Live every day as if it’s your last day on earth.”
Idris Wada, the immediate past governor of Kogi, described Jubril’s death as a major loss for politics in the state.
In his words: “Buba is a very nice man, very vibrant politician. He has the interest of the people at heart. We will all miss him greatly. We pray that his soul rests in peace. Death should teach politicians that there is an end to everything in life. That is why we should not push things beyond limit.
“We all miss Buba. He was a great man and he has contributed positively to the upliftment and the politics of Kogi State. His politics and style make him a man of the people, he listens to people and he does something about their complaints.
“He is just a good man. He had network across the country, a detribalised Nigerian with very good qualities and he was not a religious bigot. Politicians should emulate him.”
