Niger govt dislodges Islamist sect from forest

The Niger State Government assisted by a combined team of security agents yesterday demolished a forest at Lapai, in the state which was being used as a training ground for a new sect of Islamist fundamentalists. The security personnel included the Army, Navy, Airforce, police,Department of State Services, DSS, as well as Civil Defence Corps.

Security sources told newsmen that no fewer than 240 members of the sect named Nibrassiya Huda Islamist sect headed by Sheik Mohammed Mohammed Abubakar were found in the thick forest on the outskirts of Cheche village which was close to the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, IBBU.

The state government also immediately revoked the Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, earlier granted the leader of the sect, Sheik Abubakar on April 13, this year, after discovering that the vast land was not being used for the purpose it was granted.
The Islamist fundamentalists allegedly included mostly male and female teenagers.

It was alleged that the fundamentalsits were being indoctrinated based on similar principles guiding the operations of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents now killing and maiming people in the northeast states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe in the last five years.

Spokesman of the group, Sheik Yusuf Usman who was mandated by the sect leader to speak on his behalf debunked the allegation that they are hostile and trying to cause mayhem in Lapai or state, adding that they are purely propagating Islam and the Holy Qur’an being their guide.

“We are not an extension of Boko Haram sect. We do not have any link with Boko Haram. Infact, we do not share any belief with them or have anything common with them. Boko Haram’s agenda is to unleash terror on innocent people but we are not only peaceful Islamic scholars but also farmers,” he explained.

Speaking in flawless English, he continued, “Most of us were in the Mosque when the security men came this morning and we did not attack them."