Court convicted killers of Sheikh Goni Aisami, but sentences remain unenforced – Says Successor

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

The family and students of slain Islamic scholar Sheikh Goni Aisami Sheriff say the pain of his loss remains fresh and their hope for justice is unfulfilled, more than four years after his killing.
In an interview with journalists in Gashua, Yobe state, the Khalifa (successor) of the late cleric, Sheikh Muhammad Nura Adamu, renewed calls on the Yobe State and Federal Governments to enforce the court judgment against the convicted murderers.
“We are still waiting. The court has spoken, but justice has not been completed. We are not calling for revenge. We are simply asking that the law be allowed to take its course,” Adamu stated.
Sheikh Goni Aisami was killed on August 19, 2022, in an incident that sent shockwaves through the community. Two soldiers were arrested, prosecuted, and convicted for the crime.
“One of them confessed to committing the act, while the other was convicted for assisting,” Adamu explained.
He said the court sentenced the principal offender to death by hanging and gave the accomplice a 10-year prison term. However, the family confirms the sentences have not been carried out.
Adamu, who described himself as a student shaped by decades under the Sheikh’s guidance, stressed that enforcing the judgment is crucial for healing.
“Sheikh Goni Aisami’s value to society cannot be measured. Seeing justice done is the only thing that can give us peace.”
Beyond the pursuit of justice, Adamu spoke with pride about the scholar’s enduring legacy, particularly through the Sheikh Goni Aisami Nurul Islam School, which continues to operate.
“Sheikh Goni Aisami spent more than 35 years teaching, advising, and serving. His life was about knowledge, peace, and sincerity,” he said.
Since assuming the role of Khalifa, Adamu and other scholars have sustained the Sheikh’s work through Tafsir sessions, mosque teachings, and study circles.
“There are challenges, of course, but we have not abandoned this path. This is what the Sheikh stood for.”
Reflecting on the lasting impact of the loss, Adamu noted the scholar’s kindness and humility endeared him to all.
“This pain is not only ours. It belongs to the entire community. Every Ramadan, when I sit where he once delivered Tafsir, the memories return. That is when the pain speaks the loudest.”
He also made a heartfelt appeal for continued support for the Sheikh’s family, especially his children. “Islam places great emphasis on caring for orphans—especially those who have lost their provider. This is a trust.”
The late Sheikh established a foundation to serve the vulnerable, which remains active despite limited resources.
Led by Malam Adamu Kaku with Sheikh Muhammad Nura Adamu overseeing religious programmes, it supports orphans, provides scholarships, and aids the needy.
He concluded with an appeal for public support to help preserve the legacy of knowledge, compassion, and service that Sheikh Goni Aisami embodied.