According to a press statement by Olabisi Kolawole, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Arase was speaking during a visit to his office in Abuja by a delegation of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, led by its Secretary-General, Prof Ishaq O. Oloyede.
He clarified that contrary to a report in the press, he has at no time said he needed to seek “orders from the above,” and that no special clearance was required from anywhere before the Shiite members could be visited while still in custody.
Prof Oloyede praised the leadership qualities of Mr. Arase and the Force Management Team. He thanked the Force for the cooperation extended to the Islamic body, and urged the IGP to look into the immediate and remote causes of the incident with a view to avoiding similar incidents in the future.
