By Ahmed Ahmed
The Markaz Old Boys Association (MOBA), a group of disciples of renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, and human rights organizations to investigate the actions of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
In a statement issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Bauchi, MOBA strongly condemned the midnight raid on Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s residence during El-Rufai’s administration.
The statement, signed by the association’s Assistant Secretary, Mallam Ahmad Tijjani Muhammad, described the incident as an injustice, a violation of fundamental human rights, and an abuse of power.
Tijjani decried the forceful evacuation of 160 Qur’anic students to unknown locations, stating that it was an unwarranted act of oppression.
He emphasized that attacking the home of a revered Islamic cleric at midnight, deploying tear gas on sleeping students and family members, and detaining children without just cause is an outright violation of their fundamental rights.
“Even if Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi chooses to remain silent, he deserves an apology from the former governor
“Sheikh is a spiritual leader, a symbol of peace, and a respected elder consulted by governments at all levels on matters of national stability. The attack on his residence was an affront to justice and religious tolerance.” Tijjani stated.
He demanded a thorough investigation into the incident, calling on the government to ensure justice for Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi and his disciples.
The association also urged the authorities to bar El-Rufai from holding any political position in the future, labeling him a tyrant who has no respect for human rights.
Furthermore, he appealed to Governor Uba Sani to correct the injustices committed by his predecessor, as a mark of respect for Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s decades-long contribution to Islamic education and peacebuilding in Kaduna and Nigeria at large.
The 2020 midnight raid on Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s residence in Kaduna, carried out under El-Rufai’s directive, saw security personnel storming the premises and forcefully relocating Qur’anic pupils from a Tsangaya school.
The whereabouts of many students remain unknown, despite multiple efforts by the Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Foundation to recover them.
MOBA maintains that justice must be served to prevent further violations of religious and human rights in Nigeria.
