The Chief Imam of Benin, Sheikh Abdul-Fattah Enabulele, has indicted a security agency in the state for releasing a suspected Boko Haram member who was arrested on the premises of the Benin Central Mosque, located on Igun Street in the state capital, in the past.
DAILY POST reports that the Chief Imam made the accusation at a stakeholders’ forum in Benin City, Edo State, during the launch of the Nigeria Police Force School Protection Squad, SPS, at the weekend, presided over by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
Enabulele stated that, were it not for his strong mind and his firm belief in the protection of Allah, he might have fled or relocated from Benin City.
According to him: “A few years ago, I just wanted to give an example, we have an interactive session with a security agency, I would not want to mention the name here, they told us that we should also help them to police the environment in our own area.
“So, there was a day I was in the mosque with some of my Muslim brothers at the Benin Central Mosque at Igun street. We sat down discussing. As we were discussing, we saw a strange face and we invited him. We asked him who he was looking for and where he came from?
“After much questioning, we discovered that he was one of those that was driven out of Gwoza in Borno State. He ran away and relocated to Edo State, Benin City. So, we went with him and saw a Bagco bag he brought. We dragged the Bagco bag outside of the Mosque and we opened it, and we saw so many instruments, and dangerous weapons that they use in manufacturing bombs and others things.
“So, we were still discussing with him, when I put a phone call to one of the commanders of the security agency, (name withheld). We called him and he sent his boys to come and pick him. They picked him up but after about two weeks later or thereabouts we saw the same man again walking majestically around the mosque.
“I was surprised, and if not that I believed in the God I serve, I would have even relocated or ran away from Benin.
“The man was full of confidence and was speaking his language that said “I don come back.” You can imagine that, a man that was arrested with dangerous weapons and suddenly he was released.
“So, it is just the same scenario that is allegedly playing out every day and everywhere. That is why sometimes you see people taking laws into their hands by indulging in jungle justice. Though, I am not in support of it or pray for it.
“But in a situation where somebody is found to have committed a very grievous offence, and you informed the security agency to come and arrest him, and at the end of it all, the man is just left to go, there will be problems everywhere.”
The Chief Imam then appealed to the Inspector General of Police: “When you apprehend a criminal you don’t need to look at the tribe of the criminal, where he comes from, or the religion he belongs to. A criminal is a criminal and he should be treated as a criminal. When we do this, we build trust and we build confidence.”
Imam Enabulele further called upon politicians and traditional rulers to allow the police to carry out their duties without interference.
He noted that granting the police breathing space would enable them to perform their responsibilities more effectively and successfully combat crimes and criminality across the country.
The Muslim cleric also appealed to Nigerians, especially politicians and those in authority who constantly require the services of the police, to show appreciation to them, stressing that such gestures would boost their morale.
