SOKOTO — Tension briefly rose in parts of Sokoto metropolis on Monday as youths took to the streets to protest the continued detention of Islamic cleric, Dahiru Mai Barewa.
The protesters reportedly blocked some roads and demanded the immediate release of the cleric, who was recently ordered by a court to be re-arrested and remanded.
Mai Barewa is facing allegations of issuing death threats against Islamic scholars Sheikh Musa Ayyuba Lukuwa and Malam Murtala Bello Assada. The allegations reportedly stem from videos in which the cleric was said to have made threatening statements against the two scholars.
The protest became tense when some demonstrators allegedly confronted and attacked security personnel in an attempt to secure Mai Barewa’s release.
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Security operatives were subsequently deployed to contain the situation and restore order, resulting in temporary disruption of movement in some parts of the metropolis.
Supporters of the cleric have maintained that his detention should be addressed through due process, while authorities and other stakeholders have urged residents to respect the court process and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
The controversy has attracted significant attention in Sokoto because of its religious dimension and the support Mai Barewa reportedly enjoys among sections of the community.
Calm has since returned to the affected areas, with residents urged to remain peaceful and allow the courts and relevant security agencies to handle the matter.
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