Human rights lawyer, Mr. Niyi Adekanla, has called on people with a human face to assist fiery Islamic preacher, Akeem Makinde Ajagunna, who was kidnapped, blindfolded, and threatened for speaking against Islamic fundamentalists sometime in 2018.
The lawyer said Ajagunna, who escaped by a whisker from the den of religious fundamentals/Boko Haram, during the crisis that engulfed Fagba/Iju Ishaga area of Lagos State in March 2018, has been living in perpetual fear since the incident.
In a statement issued yesterday and made available to judiciary correspondents in Ikeja, Lagos, Adekanla argued that the pathetic story of Akeem Ajagunna is worthy of assistance from a right-thinking person.
According to him, the religious fundamentalists have since also vowed to make life a living hell for his wife, Mrs. Doris Isioma Ajagunna, day and his three children: Khalil Feranmi Ajagunna, Faridat Fadeke Ajagunna, and Faaiz Fola Ajagunna.
The lawyer who declined to name the location of Akeem and his family said: “The level of insecurity in Nigeria has become unbearable to the extent that people of the same religion cannot say the truth again.
“Before the ordeal of Akeem Makinde Ajagunna in the hands of religious fundamentalists of Boko Haram, he had a good job and life before he was cruelly attacked. He joined Frieslandcampina Wamco Nigeria Plc in June 2002 as a Clark in Finance and Accounts and was later promoted to the position of Assets Manager. He was later promoted to the position of Production Accountant in the Finance and Account Department.
“He is a Muslim by birth, married to a Christian wife, and they have been living happily with their children. He is a dutiful Muslim, who practised his religion without hurting anybody. He also has a leader (Imam) in the mosque who always encourages him and others to preach the words of Allah, based on Islam as a religion of peace and morality.
"It was during one of his preachings, where he preached against killings in Islam by Boko Haram/fundamentalists, that angered them in the mosque. His preaching that Islam never supports killing over religious issues led to his abduction on 14th March 2018, after closing from office by the religious fundamentalists.
“It is a fact that the abduction of Akeem Makinde Ajagunna was violently done. Within 10 minutes of leaving his office, he was double-crossed, dragged out of his car, blindfolded, collected all his cell phones, and put inside his attackers' van.
“Thereafter, he was taken to an unknown destination where he was tied to a tree and a Holy Quran was given to him to swear that he will never speak against Boko Haram again. After this, they uncovered his face and showed him a camera of how his wife and children were threatened with a gun. At this juncture, he broke down in tears and agreed to abide by what they told him.
“Though he was released by his abductors, he walked for hours before he could find a good Samaritan who took him with a cell phone used to call his brother, who reported the incident at the police station.
“It was fear and trauma that made him and his family leave Lagos State for Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. Since he was attacked, he has been receiving strange threat calls, and he has been living in perpetual fear with his family. Sadly, the Nigeria police cannot guarantee his safety as many people have lost their lives to religious extremists. There were unresolved religious killings under the current government across states in the country.”
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