Tension has gripped the Muslim Community in Aba, Abia State following the arrest of the Chief Imam of Aba Central Mosque, Alhaji Idris Bashir; his deputy, Ahaji Bello Maija-a as well as a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps over suspected bomb at the mosque
The former Amirul Hajj, Abia State, Alhaji Musa Iheakaram who spoke to journalists in Aba lamented that his members now live in fear as every Muslim is being branded a Boko Haram insurgent.
“Since our people are being terrorized by the military, they are no longer comfortable. Most of them are even yearning to go back to their various states. It’s just like the state doesn’t want the existence of Muslims. We have been living in peace with our Christian brethren all along in the state, but this time around every Muslim is being seen as Boko Haram member. We have been working together with security operatives as far as we are concerned here in Aba, but the harassment of the Muslim community has degenerated to an embarrassing level.
“If you are in a place where the condition is no longer favourable for you to live, then the next thing is for you to leave the place. This is the situation the Muslim community is facing in Aba,” he stated
According to him, “A group of soldiers with seven hilux vehicles invaded the Aba Central Mosque at about 2am. They searched the whole mosque and arrested the Chief Imam of Aba Central Mosque, his deputy and a youth corps member posted to us. We have been making contacts since that day. Up till now, nobody knows where they are being detained.
“It didn’t end at the Aba Central Mosque, they also went to the onions market at Uratta market, searched everywhere in the mosque, but didn’t see the Imam. They took over the phones of our brothers who were in that market at about 3am and arrested the chairman of the onions market and his secretary.
“We also learnt that they went to the yam market and took away the chairman of the yam sellers. The Sarki of Ogbor Hill was also arrested by the soldiers who carried out a similar operation in that zone.
Iheakaram called on the military authorities to release the detainees as nothing was found on them. He alleged that soldiers denied him access to the Army Units at Ngwa High School and Ngwa road as he went to make enquiries about the detainees.
“I have called the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu) and the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara and contacted other personalities, but nothing has happened yet. We are still patient because we are law abiding people.”
“I am calling on the military officials to release our people unconditionally. They are innocent. Two, if they are alleging that there are bombs in the Mosque, there is no issue of bomb here in Aba Mosques. Since this insecurity problem, we have policing ourselves.”
Attempts to reach the Public Relations Officer of the 14 Brigade Ohafia or the Commanding Officer, 144 Battalion, Asa, failed to yield fruit.
However, Police Commissioner, Adamu Ibrahim said he was yet to receive any official complaint from the Aba Muslim community on the incident.
