Police Raid Home Of ‘Stars Of Nations School’ Principal Over Alleged Connection With #EndBadGovernance Protests, Terrorism Financing

The Nigerian police have raided the home of Mrs. Helen Batubo, Principal of Stars of Nations Schools in Nasarawa State, in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests.

SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that the school administrator had been by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Department of Force Intelligence over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”

The invitation, detailed in an official letter, required the school principal to appear for an interview on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the IRT Complex in Guzape District, Abuja.

SaharaReporters on Tuesday reported that Ms Batubo is the step-daughter of Mr. Drew who owns the school and runs the bookshop on 2nd floor of Nigeria Labour Congress’ Labour House in Abuja.

The bookshop along with other rooms in the building was recently raided by security agents, who carted away some materials, claiming that the materials were used to incite and organise the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.

Sources told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that the police raided the house of the school principal.

“The police have invaded the house of the principal of Stars of Nations Schools in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests.

“They invited them and they sent a letter that next week they will come but they burgled the house today (Wednesday),” one of the sources said.  

Meanwhile, SaharaReporters learnt that Mr Drew, who is currently outside the country, is also a person of interest to the police.

It was learnt that his wife had also been invited for questioning over alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

The letter addressed to the principal of the school located at Sabon Gida Akwotapy Village, Karshi District, Karu Local Governmment Area, Nasarawa State, was taken to the school by about seven police personnel on Monday, who went there in a big Hilux vehicle.

It reads, “This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime in which you were mentioned.

“You are therefore invited to interview the undersigned on Tuesday, 20th August by 10:00hrs prompt, at IRT Complex, Old Abattoir by Guape Junction, Abuja through the Team Leader with telephone no 08025179870 in connection with the above investigation.

“Be informed that in the event of failing to honor this letter, this office will have no alternative than to activate a warrant of arrest against you, please.”

The letter dated August 19, 2024 was signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu, Assistant Commissioner of Police, for the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja.

A source in the school said, “The letter was dropped at Mr Drew's school. Drew's half daughter and wife have also been invited.

“About seven police personnel went to the school on Monday with a big Hilux Jeep to submit the letter. They brought the invitation to the school in Orozo. Mr Drew’s half daughter is the principal of the school.

“So it wasn’t only Comrade Joe Ajaero, NLC President, that was invited by the police.”

According to another source, Mr. Drew runs the bookshop on 2nd Floor of NLC Labour House, which was recently raided by the police.

“Mr Drew is also a person of interest to the police, hence the letter of invitation was sent to a person known by the police to be close to him,” the source said.

“Yet, it is against the law for a person, to be arrested and detained for a crime reasonably suspected to have been committed by another person.”

SaharaReporters reported on Monday that the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had been invited by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”

On Wednesday, August 7, armed security men invaded Labour House, the NLC headquarters in Abuja, breaking into some offices.

It was learnt that they also raided the bookshop in the building and took some materials away in their vans, claiming they were used to incite and organise the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.