There was an uneasy calm in Zaria, Kaduna State, yesterday, following the murder of a prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mohammed Auwal Albany, his wife and child by unknown gunmen, on Saturday Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal condemned the killing, urging security agencies to arrest the killers. Tambuwal described the killing as dastardly, despicable and barbaric. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, the speaker described the deceased as a fearless scholar, who went about his activities without fear or favour. Governor Mukthar Ramalan Yero described the killing as gruesome, saying despite the improvement in security in the state, more still needs to be done to rid the state of evil doers. The gunmen were said to have followed the Islamic scholar from his Salafiya Islamic Centre at 9pm and ambushed him at Gaskiya, about 500 metres to his house, leaving four others, including two of his children, injured. One of Albany’s students, who identified himself as Sahabi Musa, told reporters that the assailants trailed Albany from his centre in a Volkswagen Golf. Others were on a motorcycle and opened fire on him and his family close to their home. He said: “Mallam was reciting the Kalimat Shahada repeatedly before he died; we are so happy about that and pray to Almighty Allah to forgive his sins and reward him with paradise. “They opened fire on them and ran away. This is reminiscent of how Sheik Jafar Adam was killed in Kano. The killers trailed him from his schools.” In a statement signed by his Director General, Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki, the governor said the government has ordered investigation and assured the people that those behind the dastardly act would be caught. He described the late Islamic preacher as a man “who always stood on truth in accordance with the teaching of the Qur’arn and the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH). He was known for imparting education to the younger generation, a practice which he upheld until he met his death in the hands of evil men. “At this difficult and sad time, our hearts and prayers are with the family of the late Albany. We urge his family to take solace in the belief that we are all from Allah and to Him, we must return.” The governor called on his followers to remain calm and law abiding as the government would bring the perpetrators to justice. The Secretary-General of the Muslim umbrella body in the North, Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, said the spate of killing of religious clerics was worrying. He called on the authorities to strengthen the security network and find the killers. Police and other security agents were keeping vigil in strategic parts of the city, but were yet to make a statement on the killing. posted on February 03, 2014 at 12:00AM Send an email to Joseph T. Obagbemisoye jtob91@yahoo Like JTNNG on facebook facebook/jtnng91 View Joseph T. Obagbemisoyes profile on facebook facebook/jtob91 Follow @jtob91 and get followed also jtnng.blogspot/
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 23:13:39 +0000
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