SANGO Otta trader Joe Chinakwe has been arrested by the men of the Ogun State Police Command for naming his pet dog Buhari in what the authorities see as an insult to the president and the government.
Mr Chinakwe, 30 of No 10, Omikunle Street, Sango-Ota, was reportedly arrested last weekend, after one of his neighbours of northern extraction complained bitterly that he named his dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari. His neighbour then reported the matter to the Sango Police Station after which the trader was arrested and detained.
Efforts by the police to recover the dog, which they intended using as evidence failed following a clever move by the suspect. Mr Chinakwe, who trades in female wears at a popular market in Sango, allegedly directed his friends to secretly kill the dog and eat the meat in order to avoid being implicated.
Following his arrest, consistent appeals by his friends and relations for the police to grant him bail failed as the complainant. Two days later when Mr Chinakwe’s relatives went to Sango Otta Police Station to further plead for his bail they were told that the case file and the suspect have been transferred to Ogun State Police Command headquarters at Eleweran.
One of his relations who identified himself as Chiedozie, said that his brother was being persecuted for no just cause and expressed fears that he may either be poisoned or thrown into jail. He added that there was no justification for the arrest as Mr Chinakwe had not committed any crime.
Chiedozie said: “Chinakwe is a lover of dogs and he names them after things that tickle him. He bought this dog a year ago and named it Buhari.
"Unfortunately, some northerners, who dominate the vicinity where he resides misconstrued his intention and connived to take him up. The complainant then claimed it was derogatory because his father answers Buhari.”
One police source said that the actions of the suspect were very provocative adding that he not only named the dog Buhari but boldly wrote it on both sides of his body. Mr Chinakwe was then seen parading the neighbourhood dominated by northerners with the dog.
Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi added: “I have made enquiries and the man bought a dog and inscribed Buhari on both sides of its body. One Mallam lodged a complaint and when our men got there, we found out that it was true.
You know such thing can cause serious breach of the peace and ethnic or religious unrest. We are charging him to court for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”
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