TheNewsGuru

Tag: Cleric

  • Cleric vows to trek from Abuja to Maiduguri if Shekau is captured

    A 37-year-old Islamic cleric, Ali Ahmad has vowed to embark on ‘foot journey’ from Abuja to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital should the wanted Boko Haram terrorist, Abubakar Shekau is captured.
    Ahmad said he would take it upon himself to trek the 844 kilometer journey to celebrate the Nigerian troops if they succeed in bringing the ‘heartless’ insurgent down.
    Checks by this reporter show that the distance between Abuja and Maiduguri is measured 844.71 kilometers, approximately 70 miles per hour.
    His promise is coming on the heels of the recent order by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai to the troops fighting Boko Haram in the Northeast to arrest Shekau within 40 days, either dead or alive.
    Ahmad made this revelation while speaking during the prayer organized yesterday by some religious bodies to render Boko Haram spiritual base useless on Wednesday.
    The groups said they would be embarking on 40 a 40-day prayer and fasting for God to end the reign on insurgency in Nigeria.
    Speaking at the Unity Fountain on Wednesday, Ahmad, who claimed to be a native of Gudumbali village in Guzamala LGA of Borno State, said he lost one of his wives and two children to an attack carried out by the Boko Haram insurgents on Monday Market in Maduguri in January 2015.
    Ahmad said he decided to relocate from Borno after the deadly attack.
    Speaking in Hausa, the emotion-laden man said he has not been able to get back on his feet since the attack, which destroyed his shop and goods worth millions of naira.
    “I was doing fine with my family in Maiduguri until January 2015 when the Boko Haram members attacked the Monday Market and killed several people.
    “I was in Kano that day to buy goods when I got a call from my house that my wife, Zaina and two sons have been killed by bomb blast. I lost everything I had and I had no choice than to move my remaining family to my village in Gudumbali. From there I moved to Abuja,” he said.
    The father of three, who attributed the cause of his misfortunes to the activities of Shekau and his men, said he would be the joyous person if the extremist is eventually captured.
    “I am ready to trek from Lagos to Maiduguri if he is arrested. I don’t mind my age and strength. Shekau is an evil man and deserves to die. He will not go unpunished,” Ahmad added.
    Ahmad, while acknowledging the efforts of the military in restoring peace back to the volatile community, said the battle is now between God and evil and that’s why the prayer for the soldiers is very important.
    He said, “Our military deserves all the support and encouragement from spiritual and political leadership of the country to totally wipe away their tears in the north eastern part of the country. It will be everyone’s joy to see Shekau in chains.”
  • Police arrest cleric, recover decomposing body of missing UNIOSUN student

    Police arrest cleric, recover decomposing body of missing UNIOSUN student

    The Police in Osun State on Tuesday paraded a cleric, Sakariyau Abdulrofiu, and his suspected accomplices, Ibrahim Ayuba and Yusuf Aliu, over the death of a 400-level student of the Osun State University, Oluwafemi Shonibare, who was declared missing earlier in June.

    After his arrest, Abdulrofiu led the police to a spot near his house where the body of the student was dumped.

    The body of Shonibare was already decomposing when it was retrieved by the police.

    The suspects confessed of plans to use the deceased, who was a final year student of the department of microbiology, for money ritual before they were apprehended.

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of Osun State, Fimihan Adeoye, confirmed the development.

    He said that the police had enough evidence to successfully prosecute the suspects in court.

    He also said the suspects had owned up to the crime and would soon be arraigned in court.

    “I can assure you that they will be soon be arraigned in court and that means we have enough evidence to prosecute them,” Adeoye said.

  • Tragedy as hoodlums butcher cleric, wife, 4 children to death

    Tragedy as hoodlums butcher cleric, wife, 4 children to death

    A 35 year-old Muslim cleric, Sheikh Yusuf Amzat-Salam, also known as Alfa Abu, his wife and four children were killed by hoodlums in the early hours of Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    The incident occurred at Atiba area of Odogbolu Local Government Area.

    The eldest child, a girl aged 11, her twin brothers, aged 8 and the last female child, aged 2 were all killed.

    All the victims had been buried in accordance with Muslim rites, amid wailing by sympathisers and relations.

    The attackers, whose motive could not be ascertained, butchered the entire household with machetes.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the victims were discovered in the pool of their blood when a school bus came to pick the children.

    A close family friend, Mr Yusuf Oludaisi, described the act as dastardly and wicked, wondering what the victim must have done to warrant such treatment.

    “He was someone whom we grew up together. I have known him for 30 years to be humble and kind to everyone who came across his path.

    “It’s really sad because this was someone you will never see quarrelling or being disrespectful”, said Oludaisi.

    The younger brother of the victim, Alfa Ishaaq Amzat-Salam, however, said he would leave the matter for God to judge.

    “I leave those who perpetrated such evil into God’s hands for He alone will judge them. The deed cannot be undone.

    “I will always remember my brother forever for his loving kindness as he was a shining light to us all”, said Ishaaq.

    Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), who was at the burial of the victims, described the incident as very sad.

    “I am a close friend to the father of the victim and when I heard what happened, I was in shock.

    “It is unimaginable what these people did and it brings much sadness to my heart. I don’t even have the words to describe it”, said Kaka.

    Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Ogun, Bimbola Oyeyemi, said the command was aware of the incident.

    “We are already doing all to investigate and apprehend the culprit”, he said.

    Sympathisers described the cleric as a peace-loving, humble and caring individual.

     

     

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Eid-el-Maulud: Cleric urges Muslims to pray for peace, development

    Eid-el-Maulud: Cleric urges Muslims to pray for peace, development

    The Chief Imam of the Islamic Centre, Uwani in Enugu, Alhaji Abdul Isola, has urged Muslims to use the Eid-el-Maulud period to pray for the peace and development of the country.

    Isola, gave this advice on Monday while speaking to the newsmen on the essence of the Eid-el-Maulud.

    He said what the country needed now was a concerted effort to turn around the nation’s resources and not divisive tendencies, especially in managing the nation’s economy.

    “If there is anytime the citizens need to support the government, it is now and those in authorities need our support and prayers more than ever before.

    “There is no need to add to the hardships and difficulties in the land with unnecessary disagreements and strives,’’ he said.

    The cleric, who also doubles as the Chief Missioner of the centre, said that Nigerians should support the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government.

    “Our basic headache now is the massive looting of the treasury and the unpatriotic attitude of transferring the loot to foreign countries.

    “If half of what has been stolen in the country in the past 10 years is repatriated to the country for a focused leadership to manage, we will be among the leading countries of the world,’’ he said.

    Isola noted that Eid-el-Maulud, which is the commemoration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, “is a celebration of peace’’.

    “Prophet Muhammad is an epitome of peace and that is why Islam is a religion of peace,’’ he said.