Three notable organisations in Nigeria, Ja’ma’atul Nasrul Islam (JNI), Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) and Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) have condemned the gruesome murder of Sheikh Goni Aisami by two soldiers on Friday around Nguru/Jajimaji area, Yobe State.
In separate reactions on Tuesday, the three groups called on the relevant security agencies to immediately prosecute the perpetrators and bring them to book.
Muslim News gathered that the gruesome murder of the renowned Islamic scholar was allegedly carried out by Lance Corporal John Gabriel and his accomplice, Adamu Gideon, who have since been arrested by the police.
– If this had happened to a Christian clergy, CAN would have been on their voices – Dr Khalid
The JNI Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar, said, “To say the least, the sheikh’s murder was dastardly, reprehensible, and stands condemned, given the kind-hearted nature of the sheikh, who of his own volition offered the assailants a ride in the same car.
“Surprisingly, both John Gabriel and Adamu Gideon resolved to rob him of his car. Yet, the Muslim Ummah did not in any way declare that it was an attack by Christian terrorists in military garb.”
According to the statement, “If this had happened to a Christian clergy, CAN and its cronies would have been on top of their voices that Muslim terrorists have killed a pastor or reverend and the media would also have been awash with such information.”
It recalled, “Sometimes in 2018, Maj. Gen. Idris M. Alkali was brutally killed by the Birom ethnic group of Du Community (a predominantly Christian suburb) in Plateau state and his remains thrown into a pond, yet, nothing was reportedly done as punishment against the perpetrators.
– The killing, callous, brutal, cold-blooded, says Prof. Akintola
Also speaking, MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola described the killing as brutal, callous and cold-blooded, calling for swift justice on the killing of Shaykh Goni
Akintola said, “The most popular Islamic scholar in Gashua, Yobe State, Shaykh Goni Aisami, was killed on Friday, 19th August 2022 by a soldier who claimed to be on duty and begged for a lift from Nguru to Jajimaji town.
“While we commend the Yobe Police Command for arresting the suspects, we call for swift justice in this matter. The killing is brutal, callous and cold-blooded. The suspects must be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction as soon as the police complete investigations. We warn against any hanky-panky.
“While our gallant soldiers have been having sleepless nights so that Nigerians can sleep with their two eyes closed, criminal elements among them have been robbing and killing innocent people.
“These two soldiers, Lance Corporal John Gabriel and Lance Corporal Adamu Gideon of 241 Recce Battalion Nguru, who have confessed to their crimes are bad examples and the law must take its due course.”
While calling for full investigation into the crime, the MURIC boss said that there may be other accomplices apart from those arrested.
He said, “We are interested in knowing how a soldier who is not on duty travelled from Nguru to Jajimaji with a rifle.
“Who gave him a ‘pass’ or was he AWOL (Absence Without Official Leave)? Who released a rifle to him and for what purpose?
“We may be dealing with a criminal syndicate within the army barracks in Nguru or beyond. This case has offered more questions than answers and Nigerians are waiting for responses, particularly from the Nigerian Army.”
– It’s time to act, Mal. Disu tells security agencies
In his submission, the Director of MPAC, Mal. Kamor Disu, said the cruelty of the merciless killers of one of the most revered Islamic scholar in Yobe State is beyond imagination.
Mal. Disu noted that Sheikh Goni Aisami was murdered in cold blood for showing kindness to a fellow Nigerian, adding that, he was shot dead by a rogue member of the Nigerian armed forces, Lance Corporal John Gabriel, after the Sheikh found him stranded on the road, and offered him a ride to his barrack.
According to MPAC, “Employed to provide and guarantee security and peace, Lance Corporal John, turning on a man that had offered him help, killed Shekh Goni in the same military uniform and with the same gun tax-payers gave him to protect Nigerians. Imagine returning an act of kindness with three shots to the skull.
It’s time to act, Mal. Disu charged the relevant security agencies, noting that, “Thankfully, the perpetrator of this heinous crime and his collaborator have been apprehended. It’s most important that justice is served in a timely manner and seen to be served.”
Speaking further, the MPAC Director said the action of bad eggs and vicious killers within the armed forces, like Lance Corporal John, is a threat to the sacrifices being made every day by men in uniform and especially by those at the war front repelling the threats and attacks of the terrorist group, Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers.
“The military must respond to this vicious attack on an innocent man and on the military institution by ensuring that its recruitment and training policies are strengthened to prevent killers from using the uniform and rifles to commit crimes. There is no way to sleep if those wearing the uniform cannot be trusted or helped when stranded, he added.
While demanding justice, the three organisations therefore pray that Allah will accept late Shiekh Muhammed Goni as a martyr, bless and console his family, friends and community.
