A popular Christian lawyer in Maiduguri, Borno State, Amos Tori was recently held for questioning along with his son in connection to Boko Haram activities in the state capital.
The lawyer, who had been practising and owned a chamber in Maiduguri for some years was, however forced to relocate to Abuja due to the insecurity that has engulfed the state. But he was said to have been sneaking into town unnoticed to attend court sessions or treat some of his case files and other personal issues every fortnight.
It was, however, gathered that things became complicated for the lawyer when his son’s name was mentioned as an accomplice by an arrested Boko Haram suspect during interrogation by the Volunteer Vigilante Youth Group (VVYG) otherwise known as “Civilian JTF”.
The Boko Haram suspect, who according to sources, allegedly said he was a close friend to Tori’s son, was arrested in a house behind Alhaji Mohammed Indimi’s residence along Damboa road and did not deny being a member of the dreaded Sect.
The suspect also reportedly told his interrogators that he gave Tori’s son some items for safe-keeping.
The ‘Civilian JTF’ swung into action by storming the legal practitioner’s residence in order to effect the arrest of his son but were reportedly surprised to meet the main entrance under lock and key, with enquiries made by the ‘Civilian JTF’ from neighbours on the whereabouts of the occupants of the house revealing that the embattled son had fled to Abuja.
It was gathered that both father and son decided to return to Maiduguri on the advice of associates that the son be turned in, but walked into the hands of the ‘Civilian JTF’, which reportedly beat them mercilessly before handing them over to the security operatives for further interrogations.
Effort to get the JTF to speak on the matter proved abortive as several visits to the JTF Headquarters at Pompomari bypass to see the JTF Spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa failed.