Faisal-Abdulkadir appeals to govt, others to support Sheikh Albani’s children
A lecturer in the Department of Library and Information Science Gombe State University, Malam Abubakar Faisal-Abdulkadir, is a cousin to late Sheikh Ibrahim Kuri-Albani, in this interview with CHIMA AZUBUIKE, Faisal-Abdulkadir, narrates how he was attacked for the third time, the life and times of the revered Islamic cleric who was gruesomely murdered by suspected robbers at his Tabra home.
What was your relationship with the deceased? I’m cousin to the late Albani Kuri, the famous Islamic scholar known for his messages.
Can you describe his life and times? Actually, he was aged 44 years old, a good man and respected Sheikh. He was an Islamic cleric, who specialised in Tafsir and Hadith as well. All his life, Sheikh Albani Kuri, has always taught and preached wherever he found himself. Once he was given the opportunity, he would just teach the quaran, in a nutshell, that was how he spent his life. He was a dutiful person, caring and loving, he has philanthropic in his disposition especially the indigent persons around him. Not many shows love to people especially when they are privileged, his was exceptional he was exceptionally kind. A community person and family man with sense of utmost responsibility.
What will you miss about the late sheikh who was undoubtedly popular for his tafsir? Basically, I and many other people will miss his teachings. Actually, we will miss especially the Saturday tafsir that most of us attends. Late sheikh Albani Kuri, usually delivered it at the shabisunah mosque I used to attend very frequently. The death of the Sheikh is a painful one, we have never experienced this kind of thing in the family. It’s sad that someone will be healthy, not sick but will be cut off just like that. His unique delivery of tafsir was extraordinary, this had endeared him to people, to many followers both young and old. So many of his followers I assure you will miss this but like good Muslims we rely in the will and plan of Allah.
When did he become a Sheikh? It was around 2015 . The position of a Sheikh is like academic learning that we have from first degree, masters, and PhD before you become a Professor. In that regard the Sheikh in academic line can be compared to a Professor. So, it was in 2015 that he attained this pedestal. So the position of a Sheikh is not just for anyhow persons but for those who have committed themselves to search, research and study of the holy Quran. He was unique in his own ways.
What will the people miss most about him? We will miss alot actually because in the family he has been a figure to be reckoned with. He has taken responsibility of his family and some others including some of his siblings that shared same parents with him. The people he has been kind to overtime will miss this support, it a big void that only Allah can fill especially with the economic situation around the country where most people are managing to survive. He has been magnanimous, philanthropic so some of these gestures will be highly missed. As it is now, I don’t know who will take care of these responsibilities now that Sheikh Albani Kuri, is no more.
Can you recall the last experience with Sheikh Albani Kuri?
It was on Saturday before the week of his demise. It is before he delivered the lecture he just shared a few jokes with me as his cousin our relationship is such that I’m his uncle’s son and he was my aunt’s son. We had traditional jokes for cousins because of the kind of relationship we had. Our relationship made it easily for us to relate well, in the North first cousins are like brothers and sisters they share alot in common, in our own place we had unique things like names, jokes we usually share which you may not even understand no matter how hard you try even while you are there present with full concentration on the our pleasantries. We related in this unique manner very often no matter the busy schedule.
Was that the last time you met before his demise? No, I saw him the day before he was killed. I saw him but he didn’t see me. So, since we were far from each other we didn’t have to talk, joke or say the usual things that we used to say as first cousin.
Where exactly was that?
It was around the mosque. I was about going to the office. So he parked in a plaza along the main market road. I saw him but he didn’t see me, so I passed. I was driving, when I sighted late sheikh Albani Kuri, he was heading to his car maybe he went to get something or meet some people I really can’t tell.
How do you feel about his death, what exactly happened. Some claimed he was assassinated, the police said it was robbery incident, can you confirm what exactly led to his demise? Alhamdulillah, as an Islamic believer we know that whosoever lost his life in the struggle of protecting his own property is definitely going to have a shahada direct Aljanah (paradise). Since he died struggling to collect his property. The robbers collected his phones, Automated Teller Machine cards and he struggled with them and he was stabbed with the knife. I will say Alhamdulillah that he has a shahada. He was killed in the struggle to protect his property, so I wouldn’t call that assassination or name the killers as gunmen like some persons reported instead they were the young boys whose parents failed to train well or those who defied efforts to get the trainings bequeathed them. The reason I’m campaigning for deliberate or intentional parenting, no child should be born without preparation as a father or mother to cater for them.
What will be your call to the security agencies? Actually, you know the nature of the security architecture. I may not have much experience in it but I wish to urge them to improve their operations as it would save more lives and property especially for people residing around this area. The security challenges have been worsening as they have been experiencing this type of challenge. It may interest you to know that this is the third time he was attacked. The first one he was there at home, the second one they were not around he and the wife went somewhere only to return to discover that their home has been burgled and thirdly, this one that they killed him in the process of their operation. Actually, the neighbourhood needs to organise themselves if the security agencies can’t take care of their security needs. As you know, civil population has outnumbered the number of security there is need for the people living around to organise themselves form a local vigilante commonly called ‘banga’ so that they can forestall a reoccurrence thereby taking care of themselves. This thing can’t continue like this because experience of neighbours explained that the criminals used to come enter 10-20 houses within the area, if the security is not ready to help them due to the huge population then the residents must restrategise.
You said late Albani was attacked two times before this last one, why, who could have tipped the gangs of his belongings there?
In the first robbery attack the gang attacked the home, raided and packed their belongings, the second one, the late sheikh Albani Kuri, was not home, he was away likewise his wife and this last one that led to his demise.
Do you know if he reported these incidences to the police? I wouldn’t know, that information is not at my disposal. What I told you is basically what the wife had told us so far.
How many wives did the late sheikh have? He had two wives but the other one has travelled she is in her home town Mubi. However, the Amariya (last/new wife), was the one with him when the incident occurred.
How many children? He has about seven children. Now that Sheikh Albani Kuri, is no more the burden will be transferred to us. However, we wish that government will take some responsibility of his family we know he can’t do it all but he should give a helping hand to the immediate brothers so that they can do what is expected of them.
You know education is a golden legacy so it will be nice for the seven children to get the best I’m sure that will be the desire of the Sheikh, it will be appreciated if government can grant them scholarship. This will to a good extent console the children and lessen the burden of the family. This is the reason for my special appeal to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, to step him and do something for the family, children even if it’s scholarship, whatever support that he may want to support the children with the family will be most grateful. These children must not be denied the basic education, because of the father’s demise, the government can step in atleast in honour of Sheikh Albani Kuri.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, was here after the incident occurred and in his statement he promised to beef up security architecture, what’s your call to him?
When Governor Yahaya, visited the late Sheikh’s residence he reassured the citizens of Gombe State that the government remains resolute in its efforts to upholding the safety and security of its people. He reassured that government will continue to take comprehensive measures and apply the superiority of its force to clear and flush criminals in any part of the state, as well as bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice to prevent such incidents from recurring. He also said the memory of Sheikh Ibrahim Albani Kuri, will serve as a reminder that we must remain vigilant and steadfast in our pursuit of a society where everyone can live in peace and without fear.
Already, we have heard that the police has also declared curfew.
What’s your counsel to the youths in the area?
Parents should take ownership, they must ensure that they talk to their children. If you know you are not ready to parent then don’t birth them, you should not even get married it’s even better for the society than to give birth to children that will commit atrocities like this in the society by killing people anyhow. Some of the perpetrators are adolescents they are the ones carrying weapons, maybe if you slap one he may even faint. Parents must endeavour to give their children the right training; the lack of this training is the genesis of all this problem. Parents should not continue to cause more problems for the society, they may not know but by the time you refuse to take charge of your responsibility you are causing challenges for the society. Beyond fending for your children, you have a duty to counsel them, guard them and protect them but the boys tormenting this environment and the others are either protesting the neglect of parental roles in their lives. It however, unfortunately that alot of times when they start causing havoc by venturing into criminal activities and all that it’s not only their families that suffers everyone does. When they steal, kill they don’t necessarily steal that to their families but to people innocent of such neglect which is most unfortunate. So there should be conscientious effort by our leaders to ensure that they encourage parents to be responsible, responsive to the demands of the title and not allowing the society to continue to feel the pain of your failure by so doing level of criminality activities will come down. The much needed peace will be achieved, development will occur and sanity will be restored significantly for all.
