The Niger State Government in collaboration with a combined team of security agents, Wednesday, demolished a forest at Lapai, Lapai local government in the state, which was being used as a training ground for a new sect of Islamic fundamentalists.
The team of security personnel included the Army, Navy, Airforce, police, Department of State Services, DSS, as well as Civil Defence Corps.
Vanguard quoted security sources as saying at least 240 members of the sect named Nibrassiya Huda Islamist sect headed by Sheik Mohammed Mohammed Abubakar were found in the forest on the outskirts of Cheche village, close to the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, IBBU.
Abubakar and members of the sect said they gathered only for the purpose of learning more of Islam without any other motive.
The leader of the special task force that dislodged the sect, Lieutenant Colonel Adamu Yakubu, explained that the dislodgement is purely a security measure.
Sheikh Abubakar however expressed surprise at the raid as he noted that the sect has been in existence with the knowledge of the government and security officials.
He also said the group had no links whatsoever with dreaded Islamist sect Boko Haram.
Abubakar’s explanation regardless, Yakubu insisted that the task force invaded the sect’s abode to enforce an order to dislodge the sect.
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