Tuesday, September 8, 2026 -Tension briefly gripped parts of Sokoto metropolis on Monday as youths protesting the continued remand of an Islamic cleric, Dahiru Mai Barewa, clashed with security personnel.
The protesters, who demanded Mai Barewa’s release,
reportedly blocked some roads and staged demonstrations in parts of the city
before security operatives intervened to restore order.
The protest followed a court order directing the re-arrest
and remand of Mai Barewa, who is facing allegations of issuing death threats
against Islamic scholars, Sheikh Musa Ayyuba Lukuwa and Malam Murtala Bello
Assada.
The development has drawn attention in Sokoto because of the
religious dimension of the allegations and the support Mai Barewa enjoys among
some youths and members of the community.
The youths opposed the court decision, insisting that their
concerns should be addressed through due process and calling for what they
described as “justice and respect for the rule of law.”
The situation, however, escalated when some of the
protesters allegedly attacked security personnel in an attempt to forcefully
secure Mai Barewa’s release from custody.
“They attempted to take the law into their own hands and
forcefully free him from custody,” a source familiar with the incident said.
Security personnel were subsequently deployed to contain the
situation and prevent further escalation, with the confrontation causing
temporary disruption to movement in the affected areas.
Mai Barewa’s case stems from a series of videos in which he
was allegedly seen making threats against Lukuwa and Assada. The videos
reportedly generated concern among residents and prompted calls for security
agencies to investigate the matter.
According to reports, Mai Barewa linked his alleged threat
against Sheikh Lukuwa to comments attributed to the cleric concerning the
parents of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He also reportedly referred to disagreements
with some authorities in another video.
Assada had earlier said the alleged threats were reported to
security agencies, claiming that Mai Barewa repeatedly threatened the clerics
in several videos.
The matter subsequently became a subject of legal
proceedings, with the court ordering Mai Barewa’s re-arrest and remand. His
supporters have, however, opposed his continued detention and demanded his
release.
The controversy has continued to attract public attention,
particularly among religious communities in Sokoto, with supporters of Mai
Barewa demanding his release, while others have urged authorities to treat the
alleged threats seriously.
The latest protest has also renewed calls for restraint,
with stakeholders urging residents to allow the courts and security agencies to
handle the matter rather than resorting to confrontation.
“People should not take the law into their own hands. If
there is a grievance, it should be addressed through the appropriate legal
channels,” a stakeholder said.
Authorities have since restored calm in the affected areas,
while residents were urged to remain peaceful and avoid actions capable of
disrupting public order.
0 Comments