Noah Ebije, Kaduna

Jamaatu Nasril Islam (JNI) has called on the Nigerian Army to recover the corpse of its former chief of administration, Major General Mohammed Idris Alkali (retd), for proper burial.

The army said it discovered a shallow grave where Alkali, who was declared missing on September 3, 2018, wile on his way from Abuja to Bauchi, was buried.

The General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Division, Maj. Gen. Benson Akinroluyo, at a press conference in Plateau State, last Friday, said the army’s search team discovered the grave and that he was buried in the shallow grave in a place called “No man’s land,” in Lafande community of Jos South, Plateau State.

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The JNI, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar lll, said, the religious body is disturbed by the discovery and called on the army not to relent until the body is recovered and buried in accordance with Islamic rites, in a signed statement by the Secretary General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu.

“In line with the information given by the Nigerian Army, we call on the government not to be deterred on the search of the dead body. We, thus, call on the Nigerian Army to recover the General’s body, wherever it is, in order for the family to give it a befitting Muslim funeral.

“However, if, from all indications, it becomes a herculean task for the Nigerian Army, then, in line with Islamic rites, the Muslim Ummah (community), along with family members, could conduct Swalatul Ghaaib (Muslim funeral in absentia) for the deceased General.”

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Stressing the need for communities to live in peace, the group also condemned the commmunal clahes in both Kaduna and Adamawa states.

It called for calm and restraints while imploring religious and traditional rulers to always control their constituencies and nip in the bud “these recurring unfortunate incidences in their respective localities. We reiterate our call that peace cannot be restored to any community, when its people are not ready for peaceful co-existence.

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Meanwhile, Kaduna State Government has relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the state metropolis and environs.

A statement from the state government, signed by the spokesman to the governor, Samuel Aruwan, said residents can move around, from 6:00am to 5:00pm.
Government said markets and banks are expected to re-open in the day while the night time curfew remains.

A 24-hour curfew was reimposed on the state capital and environs, following fresh breakdown of law and order, last Friday, following the killing of the paramount ruler of Adara, Agom Adara III, Maiwada Galadima; who was abducted by unknown gunmen.