We’re not B/Haram – Zaria suspects family

Family members of the 10 suspects arrested by the Police in Dogarawa, Sabon Gari, Zaria, yesterday said they are not members of the Boko Haram sect but Muslims who were sacked by the Niger state government in 2009.
The Zaria police area commander, Muhammad D. Shehu, had exclusively disclosed the arrest to Daily Trust, saying that the suspects were in Darul Islam in Niger state and when they were sacked, they relocated to Sambisa forest before moving to Zaria.
However, when our correspondent traced the house of the suspects at Dogarawa, a 20-year-old son of one of the arrested suspects, Malik Bn Muhammad Bn Adam who spoke on behalf of the families, said they were not members of Boko Haram.
Adam said the families were part of those that were dislodged from the Darul Islam settlement in Niger state.
He told Daily Trust, “When we were sacked, you know that the government has asked every family to mention his place of origin. We are indigenes of Zaria; hence we were allowed to settle here. We bought a land and built this house, and as you can see there is nothing to suggest that we are Boko Haram. We have been living year for the past seven years.
“Our neighbours here were the ones that reported to the police, largely because we don’t interfere in anybody’s business.
We usually mind our own business and the neighbours here are not comfortable with that. We are Muslims that follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunna of the Prophet (SAW). We go to Western schools and government hospitals.”
Some of the wives of those arrested, Sadiya Bintu Alhadar, Bara’atu Bintu Yahaya and Maryam Bintu Yunus, said the police had on Tuesday, June 28, 2016, brought their husbands to the house for search.
“After the search, they went back with them to Kaduna. Our husbands were arrested on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 about 8:20pm after the Isha’i prayers. After they had finished their prayers, armed policemen surrounded the mosque and arrested eight persons. The following day, two persons went to Zaria police headquarters to confirm why the eight persons were arrested; the two of them were also detained.
“We are calling on the authorities concerned to release our husbands and sons, because we are not members of Boko Haram. Anybody that wants to see or monitor our activities, he is free to do so,” Maryam Bintu Yunus said.