MIRAJ Calls For Dismissal Of Soldiers Involved In Muslims Brutality On Sallah Day

…..urges IGP, COAS to reinvestigate incident

The Muslim Initiative on Rights and Justice, MIRAJ, a human rights group, has called on the Chief Of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja and the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbedokun, to intervene and reinvestigate the alleged unlawful brutality of an Islamic cleric, Abdullazeez Sulaiman by some soldiers.

Sulaiman, who was alleged to have been brutalised and abused with severe injuries suffered from the hands of some Nigeria Army personnel on Sallah day was still being hospitalised in an undisclosed hospital together with his two wives that were also stabbed with the other having broken legs.

The two wives of the victims are Imran Nafeesat and Rasaq Ajarat with other family members that suffered abuse and gross violation of their fundamental human rights.

The Group National Amir, Adeniyi Adams, who made this known in an interview with journalists on Wednesday in Osogbo, said the need for quick proactive measures to forestall any Injustice that could be metted on any other innocent civilians becomes paramount.

Adams said the cleric (Sulaiman) was brutally abused and injured on June 16, 2024 after he left the prayer ground on Eid-kabir day for the slaughtering of his cow closed to a church premises at Olobide Village, Barracks, Odo-Omu area, Iseyin, Oyo State.

He said that one Pastor Busari Kolawole of Christ Apostlic Church came to him and challenged him for slaughtering a cow close to his church before calling on some soldiers including his biological son to brutalised the cleric.

“The two wives of the cleric were dragged out of their home and beaten in which one of the wives was fataly wounded on her head.

“The second wife including the cleric mother and siblings were also tortured by the military personnel mobilised by the pastor,” Adams said.

According to him, the manner in which the matter was handled without justice for the innocent civilians called for questioning after the alleged soldiers worked freely and Pastor Busari without any remorse for their actions.

“The names of the soldiers are Busari Stephen 23NA/85/11522 who is the team lead and four others to include Olusesi Blessing, Azeez Taofiq, and others.”

The human rights activist called on the COAS and IGP with other concerned authorities for immediate intervention.

He also suggested outright dismissal of officers found wanting for unprofessional conducts.

“Also, urgent intervention to reinvestigate and redress to save the lives of Abdullazeez Sulaiman and ensure that his fundamental human rights and that of his entire family are well secured.”

Adams called for a quick actions by the necessary authorities to reinvestigate and unravel the truth to ensure that innocent civilians are not victims of injustice in the hands of those who are meant to be “Friend of the Masses”

Meanwhile, the pastor admitted to the incident and said all hands are on deck to bring the matter under control.

Apostle Sunday Ogundairo, Christian Association of Nigeria,CAN, chairman in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo state, confirmed that the church’s pastor and some congregation members were involved in the assault on Mr. Sulaimon AbdulAzeez and his two wives.