The Department of States Security Service (SSS) in Abuja paraded seven arrested members of ‘Boko Haram’ over the killing of popular Zaria based Islamic cleric Sheik Adam Albani.
Sheik Albani along with his wife and son were killed at Gwargwaje area of Zaria, Kaduna State, while returning from a preaching session at Markaz Salafiya Centre, Tudun Wada Zaria.
The spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Oga, while announcing the arrest to journalists at the head office of the service today said those arrested have confessed to planning and killing Sheik Albani.
Marlyn Oga said the Service arrested the suspected killers between 13th and 21st February.
Among the seven persons arrested is; Yakub Abdullahi, said to be the master mind of the killings and the Kaduna/Niger states sub-regional commander of the sect.
Others paraded were: Ibrahim Shuaibu, Bilyaminu Usman, Sahabi Ismail, Umar Farouk, Yasir Ibrahim a graduate of English Literature at the Ahmadu Bello University and Musa Abubakar.
According to the SSS, Yakub Abdullahi the sub-regional commander of the sect was actively involved in the activities of the sect since the 2009 insurrection in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Fielding questions from Journalist, Yakub Abdullahi confessed to planning the killings. Speaking in Hausa language, he said, Albani was killed on the orders of the Shura Council of the sect.
Also responding, 35 years old Yasir Ibrahim who hails from Kano Municipal Council, Kano State, confessed to being a member of the Boko Haram sect.
In an attempt to shed more light on Yakubu Abdullahi’s earlier confession in Hausa language, Yasir Ibrahim said he did not participate in the actual killing but was involved in the planning.
He said, “There was a time that Albani said he would kill any member of Boko Haram and he connived with security agencies…(blabbering).”
“There was a time that a conflict happened between Albani and some Al-Zazaki students, so they killed one local barber because they said whoever comes across their house they will kill that person; that barber was arrested by his students and he was slaughtered,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether the killing of Albani was a revenge killing, Yasir Ibrahim said “yes.”
The SSS spokeswoman told Journalists that the suspects will be arraigned in court while investigation is still ongoing to unveil other members of the sect operating in the Kaduna-Niger states axis.
She also gave a profile of the suspects and their actions connected to the killing of Albani, adding that Yakub Abdullahi not only masterminded the killings, but also procured the two AK 47 rifles used.
22 years old Ibrahim Shuaibu from Rimin Gado, Kano State, joined the Boko Haram sect in 2008. As an active mobiliser in Zaria, he alongside Yasir Ibrahim transported the rifles used from Funtua to Zaria.
Bilyaminu Usman also 22 years old from Igabi local government area in Kaduna state participated in the killings. He handled one AK 47 and shot several shots at Albani. He confessed to have exhausted his magazine of thirty rounds of ammunition on his victims.
The SSS also said, 35 years old Yasir Ibrahim, a graduate of English Literature, ABU Zaria was working as head of records and billings department at Horizon Medical Centre, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.
Yasir Ibrahim helped convey the weapons used for the murder from Funtua to his apartment in Zaria. He also drove the motorcycle that conveyed the shooters Bilyaminu Usman and Kabiru (late) to and from the scene.
Sahabi Ismail, 27 years old from Sharafa Villiage, Gwaram local government area, Jigawa state said it was at a meeting conveyed in Hayin Rigasa area of Kaduna metropolis that the Shura council’s directive to assassinate Albani was revealed, the SSS said.
Umar Farouk Ismail, 35 years old elder brother of Sahabi was also at the meeting when the decision to kill Albani was taken.
While 54 years old Musa Abubakar from Potiskum, Yobe state was aware of the plan to kill Albani, his house at Darmawa quarters, Tarauni LGA. Kano state was a hideout for the Bilyaminu Usman and late Kabiru, from where they were arrested.
Marilyn Oga said the eight suspect simply referred to as Kabiru got killed while attempting to snatch the weapon of a security operative during his arrest
