Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose in the early hours of Wednesday, blocked the attempt of the Department of State Services (DSS) operatives to arrest Apostle Johnson Suleman of The Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide in Ado Ekiti.
The Pastor who was in Ado Ekiti for a two-day crusade was alleged to have preached against Fulani herdsmen rampage by ordering his members to kill any suspected herdsmen they find near him or his church recently in Auchi, Edo state.
Suleman was trailed after paying a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House to his hotel room by the operatives of the DSS in Adebayo area of the state capital, Vanguard reported.
The DSS operatives who almost forced their way into the hotel were also said to have been resisted by security men of the hotel who insisted on knowing their mission.
The pastor was said to have alerted Governor Fayose to call his attention of the sudden development.
Consequently, Fayose personally led a rescue mission to prevent the DSS from going away with the pastor by taking him to safety.
“I received several calls from hidden numbers trying to locate where I am and I had warned my security not to allow any Fulani man to come nearer me,” Suleman said.
“So when the men of DSS came in the middle of the night I knew their mission and I had to call the Governor because if they arrest me, they will put this country in fire.”
Governor Fayose expressed shock at the attempted arrest.He noted that instead of resulting to such gestapo style of arrest, the DSS could have easily invited the man of God if they have anything against him.
“I personally attended his crusade and I think it is wrong for a man of God who is harmless that could be invited if they have any issue against him. Are Christians and Muslims under different dispensation of the rule of law? . That’s why I went there to rescue him. Let them kill two of us together,” Fayose said.
“But when they saw my vehicles and the crowd, they fled. “But we have information that instructions came from DSS in Abuja that the Pastor should be arrested.We are not in a fascist state, Federal Government must learn to respect the rights of Nigerians and freedom of expression.”
