New TerroristGROUP
“Yanlabaiku” Emerges in Kebbi State — Daily Trust reports that a new GROUPknown as “Yanlabaiku” with membership of about 100 followers which is also preaching against Western education hasEMERGED at Gwadangwaji, the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi,CAPITAL of Kebbi State. TheGROUP lays claim to Islam and is conducting public preaching, meetings and processions though no violent activity has been attributed to it.
“Yanlabaiku” Emerges in Kebbi State — Daily Trust reports that a new GROUPknown as “Yanlabaiku” with membership of about 100 followers which is also preaching against Western education hasEMERGED at Gwadangwaji, the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi,CAPITAL of Kebbi State. TheGROUP lays claim to Islam and is conducting public preaching, meetings and processions though no violent activity has been attributed to it.
The group’s members are also called ‘Yanlokoloko’ which is one of the names of one of its leaders,Ismaila Lokoloko, who is assisted by one Bala Amadu.
is said to be opposed to one of the major teachings of the Islamic religion – the five daily prayers – as it allegedly preaches against offering them as Islam dictates.Members of theGROUP
, which is said to have a slogan that puts belief in their Sheikh above God, are also said to willingly surrender their wives to spend the night with their important visitors especially scholars from the group.
Daily Trust gathered reliably from security sources in the state that the group’s leaders were part of the group that was based in Niger State before it was disbanded by government. Some of the present leaders relocated to Borno and Yobe states while others relocated to Niger Republic where they might have had direct contact with the Boko Haram.
“You might have noticed that their criticism of the five daily prayers which is a compulsory act in Islam is synonymous with the teachings of the sect sacked from Niger State, while the Boko Haram is known to oppose Western education. The issue ofSHARING
When this reporter visited the group’s mosque at Gwadangwaji, behind the PHCN office, some of the members were seen sitting inGROUPS around the mosque. One of the residents of the area, said while talking about the group’s members that, “they sometimes pray two raka’ats and terminate the prayer of three raka’ats saying that Sheikh will complete the rest for them and also that of four raka’ats, only two will be said instead.”
around the mosque. One of the residents of the area, said while talking about the group’s members that, “they sometimes pray two raka’ats and terminate the prayer of three raka’ats saying that Sheikh will complete the rest for them and also that of four raka’ats, only two will be said instead.”
Some residents that spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “theGROUP used to converge at Malam Labarasi’s residence in Gwadangwaji. Most of us don’t pray in their mosque. We did not pay much attention to them because until we started seeing journalists and other people coming to ask questions, we never knew them.”
used to converge at Malam Labarasi’s residence in Gwadangwaji. Most of us don’t pray in their mosque. We did not pay much attention to them because until we started seeing journalists and other people coming to ask questions, we never knew them.”
Leader of the 1,600 Kebbi indigenes displaced by the Boko Haram from Borno State and Niger Republicand camped in Birnin Kebbi, Abubakar Gadu, in an earlier interview with Daily Trust said the leader of the Boko HaramGROUP that led the attack on them in Borno State, one Bala is an indigene of Nasarawa area of Kebbi State and also a fish merchant in Doron Baga, Borno State.
that led the attack on them in Borno State, one Bala is an indigene of Nasarawa area of Kebbi State and also a fish merchant in Doron Baga, Borno State.
When this reporter made attempt toCONFIRM the allegations from the Imam of theGROUP’s mosque, some worshippers at the mosque told this reporter that the imam had been dethroned few days earlier. However, the former imam of the mosque, Muhammadu Danmaihure, 45, who our correspondent metOUTSIDE his residence near the mosque said he voluntarily resigned as the imam of the mosque about a week ago after serving in that capacity for over 15 years.
the allegations from the Imam of theGROUP’s mosque, some worshippers at the mosque told this reporter that the imam had been dethroned few days earlier. However, the former imam of the mosque, Muhammadu Danmaihure, 45, who our correspondent metOUTSIDE his residence near the mosque said he voluntarily resigned as the imam of the mosque about a week ago after serving in that capacity for over 15 years.
“I resigned from my position as the imam of the mosque about a week ago due some misunderstanding between the congregation and I,” he said.
But when pressed further on why he had to shift base completely from the premises of the mosque and the building opposite the mosque where followers of the group converged to preach, Danmaihure said: “I was forced to relocate to the frontage of my house to avoid interacting with the group after several attempts and sermons failed to change the minds of the group’s members on certain ideology they are introducing.
“I am an indigene of Kebbi State and resigned my role after 15 years of serving as the imam of the same mosque few days ago, because the sect kept insisting that after calling prayer, we must not wait for others to pray in congregation. So, I was not comfortable with that decision which resulted into a serious rift that led to my resignation as imam of the mosque,” he said.
When asked if the sect has any similarity with the Boko Haram, why they are observing two instead of the four raka’ats in the afternoon prayer and whether the members actually gave their wives to their visitors, heDENIED such allegations saying they were not true, adding, “I have also heard of such allegations which I believe are being peddled by people who are opposed to the sects ideology. One can say anything if he is opposed to your religious ideology,” he said.
such allegations saying they were not true, adding, “I have also heard of such allegations which I believe are being peddled by people who are opposed to the sects ideology. One can say anything if he is opposed to your religious ideology,” he said.
He said the District Head of Gwadangwaji summoned him with a congregation of the mosque for a meeting on Sunday night that lasted up to Monday morning. He said the district head questioned his resignation as imam and asked questions on the recent developments in the mosque.
“I responded to him same as the response I gave to you journalists who came here on the issue. I also told him that, I am not aware of the purported existence of ‘Yanlokoloko’ group. I know Bala Amadu, but I do not know Ismail Lokoloko in this mosque. Bala lives close to our Sheikh’s house in Gwadangwaji. But, as I speak to you, he has moved to a place in Niger State about three months ago where he farms every season,” he said.
Danmaihure said he currently lives with his two wives and 14 children and thatAPART from the district head and journalists and some other people in town, there was no security agent that visited or invited him for questioning.
from the district head and journalists and some other people in town, there was no security agent that visited or invited him for questioning.
When contacted for comments, the District Head of Gwadangwaji, Alhaji Umar Ahmed,DENIEDknowledge of the existence of the sect. But when our correspondent made mention of his Sunday night meeting with the mosque’s former imam, Danmaihure and representatives of the group, the district head shouted: “Why don’t you come and see me instead of questioning me on phone, Malam!” and hung up the call.
knowledge of the existence of the sect. But when our correspondent made mention of his Sunday night meeting with the mosque’s former imam, Danmaihure and representatives of the group, the district head shouted: “Why don’t you come and see me instead of questioning me on phone, Malam!” and hung up the call.
When the journalistRETURNED to his office after the outburst and asked him same questions about the alleged emergence of the sect, the district head first responded by asking our correspondent whether he has seen any of the sects member at the mosque, adding “I can’t tell you anything because as a district head I am not supposed to speak to the press. I am supposed to report to the government. So, if you want to know anything, you should go and ask the government.”
to his office after the outburst and asked him same questions about the alleged emergence of the sect, the district head first responded by asking our correspondent whether he has seen any of the sects member at the mosque, adding “I can’t tell you anything because as a district head I am not supposed to speak to the press. I am supposed to report to the government. So, if you want to know anything, you should go and ask the government.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Samaila Dabai Yombe, when contacted earlier on phone said all necessaryACTION has been taken by government to checkmate the sect, adding that security agents are already on top of the matter. “Government has sprang into action with a follow up instruction to all security agents to bring down any such body that presents security threats to our people,” he said.
has been taken by government to checkmate the sect, adding that security agents are already on top of the matter. “Government has sprang into action with a follow up instruction to all security agents to bring down any such body that presents security threats to our people,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment