The police in Yobe State on Saturday arrested two soldiers for the alleged killing of a renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Goni Aisami.
According to reports, Sheikh Goni was killed on Friday while on his way to Gashua from Kano.
The cleric was killed by the soldiers after giving one of them a lift from Nguru military check-point to Jaji-maji, a nearby community under Karasuwa Local Government of Yobe State, police sources said.
He was shot dead while his car, a red Honda Accord 2006 model, was taken away by the assailants around 9:00 p.m.
“He actually gave one of them a lift from 241 battalion in Nguru to Gashua. But one of the soldiers, John Gabriel shot him 3 times so as to take away his car. He was shot dead while his car, a red Honda Accord (Discussion Continues) was stolen.
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“After he killed him, he then called his friend, Adamu Gideon to help him drive away the car but the duo have been arrested,” the source said.
Yobe police spokesman Dungus Abdulkarim identified the suspects as John Gabriel and Adamu Gideon, both lance corporals, of 241 Battalion, Nguru, Yobe.
Narrating the incident, Abdulkarim said; “On approaching Jaji-Maji, the cleric stopped the car to urinate,” he said, adding that as soon as he returned to continue the journey, the principal suspect brought out an AK-47 and shot him twice, killing him.
He further stated that the suspect tried to flee with the deceased’s car but failed, as it got stuck in the mud and the vehicle failed to start.
“He put a call through to the second suspect, who drove another vehicle to the scene. Unfortunately for him, his drive shaft broke.
“The two suspects then requested help from a vigilance group in Jaji-Maji. When the group arrived at the scene to tow the broken down vehicles, incidentally Aisami’s body was found at the scene,” the police spokesman added.
The two arrested suspects have been taken to Criminal Investigation Department, Damaturu, as investigations continue.
The top Islamic scholar was buried on Saturday evening in Gashua amid tears by thousands of his students, family members as well as associates. He was survived by his wives and children.
