The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has joined in condemning last Tuesday’s killing of the Chief Imam of Mada Jumu’at Mosque in Zamfara, Sheik Abubakar Mada.
The party condemned and mourned Mada’s killing in a statement issued by Mr Yusuf Idris, its Publicity Secretary in Gusau on Friday, a day after the Zamfara Government confirmed the arrest of 10 suspects, including one of Mada’s former disciples, in connection with his murder.
Gov. Dauda Lawal’s office, in a statement, said that the suspects were not personnel of the State Community Protection Guards (CPG), contrary to earlier comments by the CPG high command.
“The government has received the heart-rending news of the extra judicial killing of Sheikh Abubakar Hassan Mada in Mada town.
“It is indeed an unfortunate incident that could have been prevented.
“The security operatives have successfully apprehended all suspected vigilantes behind this heinous crime.
“The state government has taken the matter seriously and with all commitment to ensuring that the culprits of the unfortunate incident were brought to book.
“Every effort will be put in place to ensure justice is served without compromise,” Suleiman Idris, Governor Lawal’s spokesman, said.
He disclosed that the suspected vigilantes behind the murder were not in any way related to the state Community Protection Guards.
“The Community Protection Guards, a local community-based security outfit, was established to protect communities and not terrorise people in the state.
“This clarification is expected to put to rest the confusion that arose over the identity of the arrested culprits behind the murder of Sheikh Abubakar Mada….
“We want to inform the public that the state Community Protection Guards has a modus operandi which prevents them from engaging in an operation without the guidance of relevant security operatives,” he said, adding that preliminary investigation by the police has revealed that one of those arrested was a former student of the murdered Sheikh.
“This information can help the authorities better understand the situation and take appropriate actions.
“The state government will continue to update the public on the outcome of the police investigation.
“During this trying time, we sympathise with Sheikh Abubakar Hassan Mada’s family and the entire community. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Until his death, the deceased was the Chairman, Ulama Council of the Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’Ikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Gusau branch.
In its statement, the opposition APC said, “The APC leadership in the state received the news of the killing of the innocent Sheik Abubakar Mada with sadness.
“The ugly acts of lawlessness seem to be taking different and dangerous dimension with people taking the laws in their hands.
“We are appealing to the security agencies in the state to investigate the killing and reveal the perpetrators.
“The APC as a peace loving party, we will continue to support government at all levels in the fight against banditry, kidnappings, terrorism, and other forms of crimes.”
Mada district of Gusau Local Government Area was thrown into mourning following the alleged extra judicial killing of the cleric by members of Community Protection Guards (CPG) last Tuesday.
According to a resident, Isa Mada, the Chief Imam, Malam Hassan Mada, had on Tuesday performed ablution to wait for prayer time around 3:30pm, when members of the CPG emerged and forcefully whisked him away to a nearby bush and slaughtered him.
There were whispers of an alleged misunderstanding between the slain Chief Imam and one of the CPG leaders in Mada, over the arrest of some Okada riders who returned from Ibadan, Oyo State where they run their business.
“On their return from Ibadan a year ago, the embattled CPG member had facilitated their arrest for alleged involvement in banditry upon which they were detained at the CID department at the Zamfara State Police Command, Gusau.
The late Chief Imam and the district head of Mada were said to have intervened.
State commander of the Community Protection Guards, Col. Rabi’u Yandoto, confirmed the killing, saying two CPG personnel had been arrested in connection with the incident. Col. Yandoto explained that the CPG headquarters knew nothing about the arrest of the chief Imam, adding that “traditionally, we have to give orders for any arrest.”
