Family Raises Alarm Over ‘Disappearance’ Of Nigerian Islamic Scholar Days After Visiting Abuja

The wife and children of Zaria-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir have raised concerns over his disappearance, 25 days after he travelled to Abuja to address issues related to the alleged blockage of his bank account.

The cleric is a respected leader of Fityanul Islam, a Tijaniyya sect with a strong following in Zaria and other parts of Kaduna State.

Speaking in an interview with RFI International, monitored in Kaduna, the scholar’s wife, Hajiya Ramatu Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, narrated how her husband left home early in the morning after informing her that he was travelling to Abuja to sort out issues concerning his bank account.

According to her, the cleric assured her he would return the same day.

“He knocked on my door in the morning. I told him I was praying. He gave me money for household expenses and said he was going to Abuja and, God willing, would return the same day,” she said.

She added that since that day, the family has heard nothing from him.

“From that day up till now, I have not heard his voice again. Whenever I call his line, it is switched off. Today makes it 25 days since I last heard from him,” she lamented.

Expressing deep distress, Hajiya Ramatu said the prolonged silence has taken a heavy toll on her and the children.

“I am alone at home with the children. I am under serious tension. I feel dizzy, and I cannot sleep. I try to be strong so that the children will not panic, but we are extremely worried,” she said.

She disclosed that the family was later informed that her husband’s disappearance might be connected to an allegation involving about ₦2 million.

“It was said that his account was blocked and that he had to go to Abuja for it to be reopened. Later, we were told it had something to do with about ₦2m,” she added.

The scholar’s son, Sunusi Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, who accompanied his father on the trip, shed more light on what transpired during their visit to Abuja.

He said his father was informed that the blockage of his account was linked to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“After his account was blocked, he asked for the reason and was told it was the EFCC, and that the account could only be reopened if he went to their office,” Sunusi said.

According to him, the agency later told them that a sum of ₦2 million paid into the account was under investigation.

“They said there was the sum of ₦2m that had been sent to him, which they were investigating. He explained that someone linked him to another man who asked for prayers concerning personal life issues, and that he carried out what was requested,” he explained.

Sunusi further revealed that the matter later took a different turn when the anti-graft agency reportedly described it as a military issue.

“They said it was a military case and informed soldiers. They also said my father had agreed to return the money. The soldiers said they would come and question him, and since that day, for 25 days now, we have not seen him,” he said.

He added that within the period, the family received only a brief call from the cleric.

“Within these 25 days, they gave him a number and he called to say he was fine. But we still don’t know why he was arrested, where he is or what condition he is in,” he said.

Reacting to allegations circulating that the scholar was arrested for allegedly receiving money to pray for people planning a coup, Sunusi said the family was unaware of such claims.

“We don’t know anything about that because nobody informed us, and the authorities have not said anything like that to us,” he said.

The family has appealed to the relevant authorities to either release Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir or at least disclose his whereabouts, stressing that the prolonged silence has left them traumatised and in the dark.