‘Buhari’ dog owner rearrested ‘to save his life’

Joe Chinakwe, who owns a pet dog named ‘Buhari’, has been rearrested by the Ogun state police command.

Chinakwe was initially arrested last Saturday after his neighbour reported to the police that he named his dog after his father, Alhaji Buhari.

However, the 41-year-old trader has said the dog was named after Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president, who happens to be his hero.

Vanguard reports that Chinakwe was rearrested on Friday for his own protection as supporters of the complainant were threatening to kill him.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, Ogun state police spokesperson was quoted to have said Chinakwe is being held at the Criminal Investigation Department of the command.

Oyeyemi said: “The man is here with us. He is at the Criminal Investigation Department. The charge will be prepared here and he will be arraigned at Sango Magistrate Court on Monday.

“He is going to court on Monday because what he did was highly provocative. It can cause an ethnic and religious crisis. We have to be proactive, we cannot fold our arms and allow the state to be plunged into crisis.

“In fact, the arrest was made to save the suspect’s life because the complainant and his group have threatened to kill him if he comes back and this may trigger violence.”

Meanwhile, Punch spoke with Chinakwe before his second arrest, and he confirmed that his life was indeed in “danger”.

He said: “I had to leave for Eleweran very early on Friday after receiving a letter on Thursday evening inviting me to the Command. I thought I was being called over for a peace talk, I never knew it was for the purpose of detaining me again.

“I am a law-abiding citizen of this country, I have never deliberately committed any offence before, I don’t know why I am being treated like this.

“I only called the dog that name for the love I have for President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria, I didn’t mean to taunt or hurt anybody with it. I don’t know what next could follow this, I am afraid for my life, I am in danger, please help me.”