SSS parades 7 suspected killers of Sheikh Albani

By Lawrence Olaoye

Men of the Department of State Services, otherwise known as the SSS, yesterday paraded seven persons, suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram, who confessed to the killing of the Zaria based Islamic preacher, Sheikh Muhammad Auwal Adam Albani, his wife and son.

Albani, his wife and son were murdered in cold blood while returning from a preaching session at Markaz Salafiyya Centre, Tundun Wada, Zaria on the 1st of February this year.

At a press briefing by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the SSS, Marylyn Ogar, the service disclosed that those involved in the assassination of the fiery Islamic preacher along with members of his family include Yakub Abdullai (aka Alhaji Bala/Alhaji Kano Yakub Bulunkutu); Ibrahim Umar (aka Kawal Abu Amar); Bilyaminu Usman and Sahabi Ismail.

Others were Umar Farouk; Yasir Ibrahim Salihu and Musa Abubakar. Abdullahi (42) was identified as the leader of the sect in Kaduna/Niger sub region and was accused of having been actively involved in the Boko Haram’s 2009 insurrection in Maiduguri and participated in various robbery operations for the sect.

Ogar disclosed that investigations into the matter are ongoing with a view to unveiling other members of the sect operating in the Kaduna/Niger axis. She added that the suspect would soon be charged to court.

The service spokesperson said: “Investigation and confessions by suspects revealed that Albani’s pro-western posture and his preaching are contrary to Boko Haram ideology. It was this hatred that culminated in a meeting by members of the sect, under the leadership of Yakub Abdullahi at Hayin Danmani in Rigasa area of Kaduna, where Abdullahi declared that the Shura Council had ordered the killing of Albani.

“Consequently, on 23rd January, 2014, an attempt to strike at the cleric failed, as he was said to have travelled. He was subsequently placed on surveillance and on 1st February 2014, he was tracked by members of the Boko Haram sect to Markaz Salafiya Centre, where they waited for him till the end of the Programme, trailed him and eventually murdered him, his wife and son, while other occupants of the vehicle sustained varying degrees of injuries,” she explained.

Ogar also disclosed that another suspect named Kabiru, who would have been arrested and paraded alongside his colleagues, was killed by security operatives while struggling to snatch their weapons during the course of their arrest.