My Father Is Innocent, Not A Member Of Boko Haram -Kogi Lecturer’s Daughter
The daughter of the Kogi State University lecturer, Muhammad Nazeef, paraded by the Department of State Security Service as a Boko Haram suspect on Thursday, has claimed that her father is not a terrorist.
Summayya Muhammad, Mr. Nazeef’s daughter, in a statement sent to the media, described the state security’s (SSS) allegation against her father as “untrue and full of mischief”.
She said the allegation was planned to tarnish her father’s image and that of the family.
“The family categorically writes and states that the parading of Dr. Muhammad Nazeef Yunus, on the allegation as claimed by the SSS, was falsehood and a calculated attempt to damage his good reputation and image as a peaceful Islamic cleric.” Ms. Muhammad said
Mr. Nazeef, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic studies at Kogi State University was paraded alongside for others by the SSS on Thursday in Abuja.
While Mr. Nazeef, in tears, denied any link with the dreaded sect, the other four accused him of having connection with Boko Haram members. They described him as their leader , saying they had been trained in the sect’s camp in Sambisa, Maiduguri.
During the parade of the suspects, Mr. Nazeef said he believed he was being set up by the Boko Haram following his consistent preaching against the sect’s activities.
Ms. Muhammad also said that her father has always condemned the Boko Haram sect’s activities and that tapes of his messages are a proof to that.
“Dr. Nazeef is a strong condemner of the Boko Haram sect. His available records of his preaching have proven that he is not a member of the sect. Dr. Nazeef, as known by all other persons for his peace, has never been an advocate of the sect; as such the family strongly condemned in totality his parading by the SSS, even as he repeatedly denied having knowledge of his allegation.” She said
Ms. Muhammad also faulted the SSS’ claim that Mr. Nazeef was arrested at a mosque in Zuba, Abuja. She said her father was arrested by security agents at his Anguwan Rogo residence in Jos on October 29 along with one of the suspects, Umar Musa, and then transferred Abuja.
“The SSS after 21 days of the arrest shamelessly, through its spokesperson Ms. Marilyn Ogar, said they arrested him just three days ago, in a white mosque in Abuja.” She said
She also noted that the family has filed a legal action against the SSS at an Abuja High court. She said the judge handling the case, Valentine Ashi had ordered that the SSS present Mr. Nazeef in person before the court on Tuesday.
“The court, presided over by Justice Valentine B. Ashi, has ordered for his presentation before it by the SSS, next Tuesday, they hurriedly and mischievously paraded him and labelled the Boko Haram.” she said.