There is this belief at where I come from, that seeing a rabbit in the day time portends a looming danger or a signal that all is not well. This becomes worse if the occurrence is on a bright sunny day. Expect the worst as you prepare for the worst.
Not being a fanatical adherent of these traditional beliefs, I tried to rationalise and possibly dismiss them with the wave of the hand; but alas, I got stuck on occasions and compelled to agree that the words of elders on most instances, are words of wisdom. Certainly, they must have been tested times over and over again like hypothesis that translate to theory, after rigorous dissections or applications.
And so of recent, when I heard and read of another emerging sect in the colouration of Boko Haram, I told myself I have seen a rabbit in the day light. There is another fire on the mountain and it is now turn to “run, run and run” again, as there is nowhere to hide.
The Daily Trust of July 14, 2018 alerted the nation on page thus this: “Hakika: Confusion overdangerous sect.”
According to the paper, “The nation’s security network is digging into the existence of an Islamic group called “Hakika”, alleged to be recruiting and training adherents in Adamawa and Nasarawa states, indoctrinating into them radical teachings. On July 4, the Nigerian Army issued an alert of the emergence of an Islamic sect with “strange” doctrines, said to be similar to that of Boko Haram. The sect has also been described as “dangerous” and said to be headed by Ibrahim, with operational bases around Ngwurore in Yola South Local Government area of Adamawa State and Toto Local Government area of Nasarawa State.
According to the army, activities of the Hakika sect include non-adherence to five daily obligatory prayers, non-observance of Ramadan fasting, and promotion of fornication, adultery, among others
“According to the army, activities of the sect include non-adherence to five daily obligatory prayers, non-observance of Ramadan fasting, and promotion of fornication, adultery, among others.
“However, there is confusion about the existence of the group. In a memo from the office of the National Security Adviser dated June 6, 2018, addressed to the Inspector General of Police and signed by Assistant Inspector General of Police, Peace Abdallah, on behalf of the NSA, advised the police to “monitor the activities of the newly formed Islamic sect, ”Hakika”, through discreet intelligence gathering. The memo also named one Yahaya Ibrahim, Ebira by tribe who resides in Kuje, as the leader of the group.
“One Yahaya Ibrahim, who claimed he read Architecture from Kaduna Polytechnic, told Daily Trust Saturday that he had been interrogated by the security (agencies) on allegation that he is the leader of the sect. According to him, all descriptions about the identity of the sect leader aptly pointed to him, but he denied knowledge of the group. According to him, after his studies from Kaduna Polytechnic, he worked with Toto LG council and relocated and resided in Kuje over 10 years ago.
“Ibrahim said his relocation was prompted by the present chairman of Kuje, Alhaji Abdullahi D. Galadima, who informed him that architects were in great demand in Abuja.
“Ibrahim also said he had been questioned by the Special Assistant on Security to the Kuje Area Council chairman, Garki, Abuja Police Division and an Assistant Inspector General of Police, and nothing incriminating was found on him. He said he was shocked by the allegations, pointing out that he never had any forum where anyone could say he preached and it was recorded and sold to people.
“Ibrahim explained that he was a bona fide member of the Tijjaniya sect, and lived with neighbours who were of the Izala sect and worshipped in different mosques. ‘If it is about that, we have our differences. But on the issue of Hakika, I don’t know anything about it,’ he noted. He challenged anybody who alleged that he was the leader of Hakika to come forward with proof.
Meanwhile, Islamic religious scholar and leader of the Tijjaniya Movement, Sheikh Usman Dahiru Bauchi, said the members of the sect called Hakika were not Tijjaniya. ‘I do not know them, but it is said that there are some people who don’t observe the obligatory prayers and see Ramadan fasting as compulsory. It was said that the sect started practising Tijjaniya, but later started denying the teachings. They are not part of us’,” he said.
From the talks and observations so far, it is safe to conclude that there is no smoke without fire. A thief will deny until caught red-handed and confronted with incontrovertible evidence. It behoves on the security agencies to keep their eyes wide-open and ears to the ground to unravel the underlining or hidden facts. These dangerous sects always emerge silently in various formation and designations only to gravitate into vampire bats of immense magnitude.
The nation has had enough of these demons of destruction and extremists that have invested in the country, deaths, sorrow and blood.
Nigeria might not have the capacity to continue in this deadly and savage journey.
*Izekor, a journalist and public affairs analyst, is Member, Board of Advisers
of The Point.
