MOBA Calls for Investigation Into El-Rufai’s Alleged Attack on Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s Residence
By Ahmad Saka, Bauchi
The Association of Disciples of Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, known as the Markaz Old Boys Association (MOBA), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, and human rights organizations to investigate alleged abuses of power by former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
The association accused El-Rufai of ordering a midnight raid on Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s residence in Kaduna, during which 160 Qur’anic pupils were forcibly evacuated to an undisclosed location.
In a statement issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Bauchi, MOBA’s Assistant Secretary, Mallam Ahmad Tijjani Muhammad, condemned the operation, describing it as an injustice and a violation of fundamental human rights.
“Invading the house of a renowned Islamic cleric, peace advocate, and Qur’anic legend at midnight, using teargas on sleeping students and family members, is highly unwarranted and unjustifiable. It is a clear abuse of their fundamental human rights,” the statement read.
MOBA further insisted that Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, a respected scholar who has dedicated over a century to Islamic teachings and promoting peace in Kaduna and Nigeria, deserves a public apology from El-Rufai. The association also urged the government to prevent the former governor from holding any public office in the future.
“We want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, and all human rights organizations to investigate the injustices done to Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, his family, and his disciples. We also urge Governor Uba Sani to take corrective measures to right the wrongs committed by El-Rufai’s administration,” the statement added.
The midnight raid, which took place during El-Rufai’s tenure, reportedly involved Kaduna State government officials and security personnel storming Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s Tsangaya school, arresting 160 Qur’anic pupils. Witnesses said the students were forcefully taken to the Hajj Camp along Mando Road, with many still unaccounted for.
The raid generated widespread condemnation, particularly due to the scholar’s prominence. Since the incident, the Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi Foundation has made several efforts to recover the missing children.
In a separate development, the foundation has recently issued a legal threat against El-Rufai, demanding a public apology for alleged injustices committed against Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi’s students and educational institutions. The foundation set a deadline for the former governor to apologize before the end of Ramadan, warning that failure to do so would result in legal action and petitions to relevant authorities.
As calls for accountability grow, human rights organizations and the Kaduna State government are under pressure to address the allegations surrounding the controversial raid.