By Khalid Idris Doya The Markaz Old Boys Association (MOBA), a group of disciples of the renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Dahiru ...
By Khalid Idris Doya
The Markaz Old Boys Association (MOBA), a group of disciples of the renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, and human rights organisations to investigate the actions of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
The association alleges that El-Rufai abused his power, violated the Nigerian Constitution, and orchestrated an unwarranted midnight raid on the residence of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, during which 160 Qur’anic pupils were forcibly evacuated to an unknown destination.
In a statement issued after MOBA’s National Executive Council meeting in Bauchi yesterday, the association’s assistant secretary, Mallam Ahmad Tijjani Muhammad, condemned the raid as an act of injustice, a blatant abuse of fundamental human rights, and a violation of the disciples’ right to reside peacefully anywhere in the country.
Tijjani stated: “Invading the home of a respected Islamic cleric, a peace advocate, and a Qur’anic scholar in the middle of the night—firing tear gas on peaceful, sleeping students and family members—is highly unjustifiable. It is a clear violation of their fundamental human rights.”
He further emphasised that although Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi has remained silent on the matter, he deserves a public apology from Nasir El-Rufai.
“Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi has always prayed for peace and stability in Kaduna State and across Nigeria. He is frequently consulted by governments at all levels for his wisdom and guidance on security matters. Attacking such a revered scholar is not only an injustice but an insult to the legacy of peace he represents,” he added.
MOBA has urged President Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani to take immediate action by investigating the injustices committed against Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, his family, and his disciples.
“We want the government to ban Nasir El-Rufai from holding any public office permanently due to his disregard for human rights and declare him a tyrant who has no respect for fundamental human rights,” the statement read.
The group also called on the current Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, to correct the alleged human rights violations committed by El-Rufai against Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi.
“We urge Governor Uba Sani to right the wrongs and address the human rights abuses perpetrated by El-Rufai against Maulana Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi. This would be a mark of respect for Sheikh Dahiru’s over 100-year journey in propagating Islamic knowledge and advocating for peace and stability in Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.”
MOBA recalled that during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor, a government task force, acting on his directive, carried out a commando-style raid on Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi’s residence in Kaduna. The task force, comprised of Kaduna State Government officials, allegedly arrested 160 Qur’anic pupils who were studying at a tsangaya school affiliated with the scholar.
The association added that the raid took place just past midnight while the children were asleep. “They were transported under heavy security escort to the Hajj Camp along Mando Road, an act that sparked public outrage due to Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s prominence,” the group stated.
Despite multiple attempts by the Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Foundation to recover the missing children, many remain unaccounted for to this day, MOBA claimed.
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