My Father’s A Staunch Critic Of Boko Haram Activities, Kogi Varsity Lecturer’s Daughter Cries Out

The Kogi State University lecturer, Muhammad Nazeef, who was paraded by the Department of State Security Service as a Boko Haram suspect on Thursday, is a victim of conspiracy, his daughter –Summayya, has claimed.

Ms. Muhammad, in a statement sent to the media, insisted that her father is renowned for speaking out against the activities of Boko Haram and described the state security’s (SSS) allegation against him as “untrue and full of mischief”.

She said the allegation was planned to tarnish her father’s image and that of the family.

“The family categorically writes and states that the parading of Dr. Muhammad Nazeef Yunus, on the allegation as claimed by the SSS, was falsehood and a calculated attempt to damage his good reputation and image as a peaceful Islamic cleric.” Ms. Muhammad said

Mr. Nazeef, a lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic studies at the Kogi State University was paraded alongside four others by the SSS on Thursday in Abuja.

A tearful Mr. Nazeef denied any link with the dreaded sect even as the other four other accused maintained that he had connection with Boko Haram. They described him as their leader, saying they had been trained in the sect’s camp in Sambisa, Maiduguri.

During the parade of the suspects, Mr. Nazeef said he believed he was being set up by Boko Haram following his consistent preaching against the sect’s activities.

This claim was further attested to by Ms. Muhammad, who said available tapes of her father’s messages will prove that he was an outspoken critic of the sect.

“Dr. Nazeef is a strong condemner of the Boko Haram sect. His available records of his preaching have proven that he is not a member of the sect. Dr. Nazeef, as known by all other persons for his peace, has never been an advocate of the sect; as such the family strongly condemned in totality his parading by the SSS, even as he repeatedly denied having knowledge of his allegation.” She said

Ms. Muhammad also picked holes in the SSS’ claim that Mr. Nazeef was arrested at a mosque in Zuba, on the outskirts of Abuja. Rather, she said her father was picked up by security agents at his Anguwan Rogo residence in Jos on October 29 along with one of the suspects, Umar Musa, and then transferred Abuja.

“The SSS after 21 days of the arrest shamelessly, through its spokesperson Ms. Marilyn Ogar, said they arrested him just three days ago, in a white mosque in Abuja.” She said

She lampooned the SSS for hurriedly arraigning her father after the family had filed legal action against the SSS at an Abuja High court. She said the judge handling the case – Valentine Ashi, had ordered that the SSS present Mr. Nazeef in person before the court on Tuesday.

“The court, presided over by Justice Valentine B. Ashi, has ordered for his presentation before it by the SSS, next Tuesday, they hurriedly and mischievously paraded him and labelled the Boko Haram.” she said