Sheikh Albani: Six years after, killers still unknown

It’s exactly six years since unidentified gunmen killed the renowned Zaria-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Auwal Albani. Daily Trust Saturday visited his residence in Zaria and spoke with one of his sons to find out how his family has been faring since then. Excerpts

Daily Trust Saturday: What is your name and relationship with the late sheikh?

Abdulrahman Auwal Adam Albani: My name is Abdulrahman Auwal Adam Albani, I’m his first child, and I’m 27 years old. He was killed alongside one of his wives as well as my immediate younger brother – Abdullahi Auwal. So, he left behind three wives and 22 children.

DT: How has the family been faring since your father’s assassination?

Abdulrahman: Malam was killed on a Friday night on his way home from night lectures at his Islamiyya School in Tudun Wada, alongside his wife and a son inside car. His wife Umma Abdulbari, one of his students named Bello and few of his sons, including Abdulbari, Abdulhalim, Faruk and Abdulhakam were all in the car when gunmen opened fire on them. Malam, his wife and a son were instantly killed. They also shot at some of his students; though they survived the attack.

Since after his killing, we’ve been managing the schools he established for our survival, as it caters to our daily needs and that of our mums as well. We can only say Alhamdulillah.

Malam had plans to expand many of the educational institutions he had established before his life was cut short. You asked if there’s any problem with the schools. Of course, there is but we can’t say it has gone out of hand. The problem is on who takes over the mantle of leadership from among Malam’s students. So far, that’s the only challenge we face in the course of running the institutions.

DT: Security operatives said they arrested five people suspected to be killers of late Malam. Was your family contacted for any relevant update or information concerning his suspected assassins?

Abdulrahman: We heard the news over the media just like every other person. On your second question, I can categorically say no. To the best of my knowledge, no one invited any of us concerning the said arrest of Malam’s assassins. And since then, we’ve all been listening with rapt attention to hear that the suspects have been arraigned but we didn’t hear any update. On the side of the authorities, none of them came to us.

DT: Malam left behind a legacy of several educational institutions. How can you assess their progress?

Abdulrahman: Well, they’re progressing except in the way some of his disciples are handling some of his already established institutions or the ones he was about to establish. For example, in the construction of a mosque; it’s getting to a year since the construction work stopped. This is because his disciples are factionalized; either for money or leadership egocentrism. We have divergent views on how things are handled. We’re not after monetary values – no – it’s the blessings that can be derived from the institutions that we’re after, so we do intervene in their affairs.  It’s unwise/uncalled for to fight over money or leadership. Our only hope is for all the good legacies Malam left behind to be sustained. That’s what we pray for.

Daily Trust also spoke with Mahmoud Shuaib Auwal, who is a relative and one of Albani’s students.

DT: Are there any updates on the purported arrest of the suspected assassins of Sheikh Albani?

Mahmoud Shuaib Auwal: I am Malam’s nephew and was raised by him. When the authorities said that they’d made some arrests, the school director tried to talk to them over the said arrests at that time; but since then, we’ve not heard from them anymore. So, we don’t know whether or not those were Malam’s assassins.

However, as members of Malam’s family, the government ought to avail us of information concerning those suspects. Are they the real killers of Malam? And who were the sponsors of the heinous act, what penalty has been meted against them? These are some very important issues that Malam’s family should know.

DT: When you heard that the suspects were arrested, did you make any efforts towards making sure that they were penalized, or have you left everything to Allah just like your cousin said?

Mahmoud Shuaib Auwal: Malam, during his lifetime, always admonished us never to foment trouble/unrest and we have tried as much as possible to do just that. We’re peace loving citizens. We pray and wish Malam blessings always. For the government, it’s left for them to act as they will, we’ve no objection.