Army pledges to unmask, prosecute soldiers involved in alleged cleric’s murder

MURIC demands swift justice

The Nigerian Army has pledged to unmask the identity of two suspected soldiers arrested by operatives of Yobe State Police Command for the alleged murder of an Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Goni Gashua in the state.

“This incident is highly regrettable given the sector’s disposition and zero tolerance for 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 police in Yobe had arrested two soldiers over the murder of an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Goni Gashua. Gashua was killed on Friday night near Jaji Maji in Karasuwa Local Council of Yobe State.

MEANWHILE, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), yesterday, called for swift justice in the killing. MURIC in a statement by its director of the Islamic human rights organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the killing as brutal, callous and cold-blooded.
 
“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. On their way, the soldier ordered him to stop the car, shot him three times and dumped his body.
  
“The soldier called an accomplice who is another soldier for assistance because the car failed to start. But all efforts to restart the car failed until local residents saw the Shaykh’s body and noticed them fiddling with the car. They notified the police immediately.
 
“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 their investigations. We warn against any hanky-panky.”the statement read in part.