JNI demands justice over murder of Yobe cleric

The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has called for justice to be served over the killing of a Yobe-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Aisami

The Islamic group averred that quick dispensation of justice would serve as deterrence to other criminals.

The JNI Secretary-General, Dr Khalid Aliyu, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The Star had earlier reported that Aisami was killed in Karasuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State while returning from a trip to Kano by fake soldiers.

JNI lamented that the gruesome killing of Aisami demonstrated that crime has permeated every part of the country and to some extent, the security agencies.

It said the killing of the Islamic cleric and others in the country should not be swept under carpet.

The group said: “JNI received with utmost shock the reported assassination of Sheikh Muhammad Goni Aisami and theft of his car. To say the least, the Sheikh’s murder was dastardly, reprehensible, and stands condemned, given the kind-hearted nature of the Sheikh, who in 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.

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“Yet the Muslim Ummah did not in any way declare that it was an attack by Christian terrorists in military garb, indubitably, 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 awashed with such information.

“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. Same with the Rukuba Road carnage which resulted in the massacre of about twenty-two (22) innocent, defenseless Muslims returning from Bauchi State on their way to Ikare, Ondo State enroute Jos, in addition to series of such brutalities and impunities against innocent Muslims.

“Yet, the Nigerian Muslims have repeatedly remained patient, despite series of lies, hate campaigns and even outright provocations. But for how long shall this continue? Why the clandestine reportage by some section of the media against the Nigerian Muslims?

“We nevertheless, call on the federal government of Nigeria and the leadership of the Nigerian Army to as a matter of fairness and justice, hasten the prosecution of the culprits responsible for Sheikh Aisami’s death, and execute the judgement, for the Judgement must not only to be done but should be seen as done, same should apply to all similar cases in the country. Perhaps, it may serve as a deterrent against many bad eggs within the system.

“These repeated tragedies should not be swept under carpet; as we have a firm conviction that these unwarranted killings are usually well thought-out. As we have always said, no life, we repeat no life is worth taken except as stipulated by law,” JNI stated.

The Star