Late Sheik Aisami: Police arrest, parade killer soldier

Barely three days after the Nigerian Army vowed to ensure that justice is served on the killers of an Islamic cleric, Sheik Muhammad Goni Aisami, who was allegedly murdered by one of its personnel, identified as Lance Corporal John Gabriel, police in the state have arrested and paraded the suspected killer soldier.

Lance Corporal John Gabriel was arrested by men of the Adamawa State Police Command and was paraded before newsmen today where he narrated how he murdered the cleric.

He confessed that while they were driving, he lied to the cleric that there was a sound coming from his car. The cleric then alighted from his car to investigate the source of the sound, and he followed suit.

The suspect then pulled out his gun and pointed it at the Islamic cleric. When the cleric saw him pointing the gun at him, he asked what he did wrong and he (soldier) told him he has not done anything.

John said he fired a warning shot and expected the cleric to run away but he didn’t, then he fired a second shot which hit the cleric, resulting to his death.

 Confirming the incident, the Spokesperson of the Yobe Police Command, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, said the suspect claimed to be a soldier attached to 241 Recce Model Battalion, Nguru.

Narrating what transpired, the police PPRO said the suspect tried to make away with the cleric’s car but failed, because it got stuck in the mud and did not start.

The suspect then called his friend for rescue who drove another car to the scene, but unfortunately for him, his drive shaft broke.

They then requested for help from a vigilante group in Jaji-Maji. When the vigilante group arrived the scene to tow the broken down vehicles, they found the body of the Islamic cleric and alerted the police.

The two suspects were subsequently arrested and taken into police custody.

Sheikh Aisami was shot dead by a hitch hiker while travelling to Kano from Gashua, in Yobe State last Friday August 19.

The alleged killer soldier said to be attached to the Nguru Army Barracks in Yobe who he offered a lift suddenly brought out his AK-47 rifle and shot the cleric in the car at close range.

The Islamic scholar, it was further gathered, died on the spot while the soldier made away with the deceased’s Honda Accord car.

Earlier, a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Headquarters, Sector 2, Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, last Monday, said the military is carrying out an investigation into the matter in collaboration with the Yobe State Police Command.

“The attention of Headquarters Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East Operation Hadin Kai has been drawn to a publication by Premium Times dated 21 August 2022 alleging that the Nigerian Police in Yobe State have arrested two soldiers over the murder of an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Goni Gashua.

“The Sector, in collaboration with Yobe State Police Command is carrying out investigation to unravel the identity of the suspected soldiers.

“Additionally, the Sector has instituted a Board of Inquiry to unravel the circumstance surrounding the unfortunate incident.

“At the end of the investigation, the soldiers will be made to face the full wrath of both military and civil laws.

“This incident is highly regrettable given the Sector’s disposition and zero tolerance on violation of Code of Conduct and Rules of engagement for troops.

“Consequently, the Sector wishes to commiserate with the family of the victim and the good people of Yobe State and promise that justice would be served accordingly,” the statement read.