The Nigerian activist, Kunle Garb, who was arrested and prosecuted by Benin Republic authorities, has been released.
Garb, in a statement he signed and sent to our correspondent in Abeokuta on Wednesday, said he was released on Tuesday night from Porto-Novo prisons.
He, however, said that he had no regrets over his unlawful arrest and detention by Benin Republic police officers.
Our correspodent gathered that Garb was arrested at Igbokofi market on Thursday, June 24 in Yewa-North local government area of Ogun state about three weeks ago by Benin Republic police.
It was further gathered that Garb was arrested by Benin Republic policemen for resisting their encroachment on the Nigeria land through Igbokofi village.
Garb, a missionary in the village was arrested and prosecuted . His interpreter Benjamin Amosu was also arrested few days after Garb was whisked away to Benin Republic
In his statement , Garb described his arrest and his subsequent detention as unlawful , saying he had no regrets of passing through hell in the Benin Republic prisons .
He pleaded that the only things that could ease his pain and unpleasant treatment he was subjected to in the hands of Benin Republic security operatives was for the government to take the isuses of encroachment seriously and attend to the needs of the people of Igbokofi.
The statement read partly ” I was released on Tuesday 13th of july, 2021 from Porto-Novo prisons at around 8.15pm.
” I was unlawfully arrested and detained by Benin Republic police officers on the Thursday, 24th day of june, 2021 right inside Igbokofi market that belongs to Nigeria but, now being claimed by Benin Republic since 2008 for defending Nigeria, my father land from being encroached into by Benin Republic.
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“My fellow country men and women, fellow compatriots, I have no regrets passing through all I went through in the hands of Benin Republic government for Nigeria unless these are speedily executed for Igbokofi land and people:
“Making Ijoun-Igbokofi road motorable. To ensure the speedy acts on seeing to the returning of the pillars removed by Benin Rep and replanted to favour their country. Instructing all security agencies of Nigeria to have their post in Igbokofi especially Nigeria police who has their post ready for them.
” Igbokofi market is very strategic in the fight to reclaim the stolen land by Benin republic and must be reclaimed back soonest.
“Igbokofi people must be made to feel the presence of all the arms of Nigeria government by providing water, hospital and security. It must not be that only ballot papers boxes will be the portion and lot of my people but what is due to them as a people.
“Without doing the above, my unlawful arrest and detention will be a waste and I’ll see it as a punishment an vain.
“Therefore I call on both the federal and state governments to rise now and do the needful when it’ll be well appreciated.
“I say a big thank you to all the print and electronic Media outfits God bless you all.”
His wife who sent a terse message to our correspodent hailed the return of his husband .
She wrote “To God alone be all the glory. My husband is back to Nigeria. He arrived midnight.
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