Husband of Igbo trader killed in Kano, Pastor Mike Agbahime, tells GIBSON ACHONU about how his wife was murdered and his cry for justice.
Can you give us a hint of your background?
I am Pastor Mike Agbahime, one of the
senior pastors working at the Deeper Life Bible Church, Kano State. We
(my late wife and I) were also into the business of plastic production
in Kano. I am from Orodo, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
senior pastors working at the Deeper Life Bible Church, Kano State. We
(my late wife and I) were also into the business of plastic production
in Kano. I am from Orodo, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
How long have you lived in Kano State?
What happened the day your wife was murdered?
I was in one of our shops on Thursday,
June 2, 2015. We usually closed by 3:30pm and from the shop, we go to
church. But there was one Dauda Ahmed, who had formed the habit of
washing his legs (ablution) for prayers in front of my wife’s shop.
June 2, 2015. We usually closed by 3:30pm and from the shop, we go to
church. But there was one Dauda Ahmed, who had formed the habit of
washing his legs (ablution) for prayers in front of my wife’s shop.
He did that each time he wanted to say
his prayers. He would leave his shop, which was a bit far from my wife’s
own, to do that. We reported the matter to the owner of the shop, one
Alhaji Mustapha. Mustapha warned him many times to desist from doing
that. He told him (Dauda) that if he wanted to do (ablution), he should
do it in his shop. Also, the President of the Hausa Plastic Association
in Kofar Wambai market, Kano, Alhaji Aminu, also warned him when the
incident was reported to him. Aminu even told Dauda that they (market
union) would take him to court, if he did not change. He (Dauda)
continued. Dauda was also fond of putting his goods in front of my
wife’s shop in the early hours of the day.
his prayers. He would leave his shop, which was a bit far from my wife’s
own, to do that. We reported the matter to the owner of the shop, one
Alhaji Mustapha. Mustapha warned him many times to desist from doing
that. He told him (Dauda) that if he wanted to do (ablution), he should
do it in his shop. Also, the President of the Hausa Plastic Association
in Kofar Wambai market, Kano, Alhaji Aminu, also warned him when the
incident was reported to him. Aminu even told Dauda that they (market
union) would take him to court, if he did not change. He (Dauda)
continued. Dauda was also fond of putting his goods in front of my
wife’s shop in the early hours of the day.
Before she got to the shop, he would
occupy the frontage of the shop with his goods. Whenever he was told to
stop doing that, he (Dauda) would start uttering abusive words.
occupy the frontage of the shop with his goods. Whenever he was told to
stop doing that, he (Dauda) would start uttering abusive words.
On the day my wife was murdered, a call
came from one of our church members (who also has a shop in the market)
while I was waiting for my wife to leave the shop so that we could go to
the church. He told me on phone that some Hausa people were making
trouble with my wife. I asked him why and he answered, “I don’t know.”
It was then I asked him to give my wife his phone so that I could talk
with her. Do you know that the (Hausa mob) did not allow the man to give
her the phone? It was then that I quickly packed my wares to go and
find out the problem. As this was going on, I met the same man who was
with my wife at the market. He said, “Daddy, don’t worry, they have left
her (my wife).” Later, my wife appeared. She told me that it was the
same Dauda that did ablution in the front of her shop. She said that she
told Dauda, “Why won’t you allow me to finish packing before you start
pouring your water for ablution in my shop?”
came from one of our church members (who also has a shop in the market)
while I was waiting for my wife to leave the shop so that we could go to
the church. He told me on phone that some Hausa people were making
trouble with my wife. I asked him why and he answered, “I don’t know.”
It was then I asked him to give my wife his phone so that I could talk
with her. Do you know that the (Hausa mob) did not allow the man to give
her the phone? It was then that I quickly packed my wares to go and
find out the problem. As this was going on, I met the same man who was
with my wife at the market. He said, “Daddy, don’t worry, they have left
her (my wife).” Later, my wife appeared. She told me that it was the
same Dauda that did ablution in the front of her shop. She said that she
told Dauda, “Why won’t you allow me to finish packing before you start
pouring your water for ablution in my shop?”
After telling Dauda this, she told me
that he held her hand and asked her, “Mekai fatah?” This phrase means
“What did you just say?” My wife asked him, “What right do you have to
hold my hand?” She asked him to leave her hand. She stated that if he
did not leave her, that she would use one of the plastic products in the
shop to break his head. Immediately Dauda left her, he started shouting
“Allah Akbar.”
that he held her hand and asked her, “Mekai fatah?” This phrase means
“What did you just say?” My wife asked him, “What right do you have to
hold my hand?” She asked him to leave her hand. She stated that if he
did not leave her, that she would use one of the plastic products in the
shop to break his head. Immediately Dauda left her, he started shouting
“Allah Akbar.”
What did you do?
I then told my wife that since Dauda had
started his trouble again, that we should go and see Alhaji Mustapha,
the owner of the shop.
started his trouble again, that we should go and see Alhaji Mustapha,
the owner of the shop.
What happened after?
Alhaji Mustapha ushered us in. He
(Mustapha) told us to go and come back on Saturday, June 4, 2016, so as
to speak with Dauda and settle the disagreement. His office was
upstairs. But as we were leaving through the staircase, we saw a teeming
mob with weapons. Alhaji Mustapha tried to disperse them. He told them
in Hausa that he would resolve the matter the next Saturday. They
started abusing him, throwing stones at him. They called him kafir,
meaning somebody who does not know Allah. When Mustapha saw that the
mob was getting more aggressive, he opened his office, told us to go in
and locked it. When they saw that Alhaji Mustapha had let us in and
locked his office, they continued shouting Allah Akbar. As they were shouting, many others joined them.
(Mustapha) told us to go and come back on Saturday, June 4, 2016, so as
to speak with Dauda and settle the disagreement. His office was
upstairs. But as we were leaving through the staircase, we saw a teeming
mob with weapons. Alhaji Mustapha tried to disperse them. He told them
in Hausa that he would resolve the matter the next Saturday. They
started abusing him, throwing stones at him. They called him kafir,
meaning somebody who does not know Allah. When Mustapha saw that the
mob was getting more aggressive, he opened his office, told us to go in
and locked it. When they saw that Alhaji Mustapha had let us in and
locked his office, they continued shouting Allah Akbar. As they were shouting, many others joined them.
What did he (Mustapha) do when they were gathering in greater numbers?
It is painful to tell you that Alhaji
Mustapha, seeing how aggressive they were, slumped. But before he
slumped, he had called the police. The Divisional Police Officer of the
area came in with two other policemen. The three could not calm the
angry mob. The mob climbed up in their numbers, broke the window, and
jumped in.
Mustapha, seeing how aggressive they were, slumped. But before he
slumped, he had called the police. The Divisional Police Officer of the
area came in with two other policemen. The three could not calm the
angry mob. The mob climbed up in their numbers, broke the window, and
jumped in.
What were you doing with your wife while this was going on?
We were praying to God to save the
situation. When they later entered the office where we were hiding, they
hit my wife on the head with very heavy iron objects and she
immediately slumped and died. Having completed their mission, they all
went back. They did not touch me.
situation. When they later entered the office where we were hiding, they
hit my wife on the head with very heavy iron objects and she
immediately slumped and died. Having completed their mission, they all
went back. They did not touch me.
What did the police later do?
The DPO later came in after my wife was
killed and asked me, “Is she dead?” He was the one who told the other
policemen to bring the police vehicle, so that they could take her
corpse to the mortuary. When they (mob) heard ‘mortuary’, they
reinforced. When the DPO saw that they were coming in again in greater
number, he called the area commander, complaining that they had killed
my wife, adding that their own lives were in danger.
killed and asked me, “Is she dead?” He was the one who told the other
policemen to bring the police vehicle, so that they could take her
corpse to the mortuary. When they (mob) heard ‘mortuary’, they
reinforced. When the DPO saw that they were coming in again in greater
number, he called the area commander, complaining that they had killed
my wife, adding that their own lives were in danger.
What was the response of the area commander?
The area commander deployed more
policemen in the area. They arrived immediately and started shooting
canisters into the air to disperse the crowd. It was the policemen who
helped me to put her corpse inside the vehicle to the mortuary. The mob
continued to throw stones at the vehicle as we were going to deposit her
corpse in the morgue.
policemen in the area. They arrived immediately and started shooting
canisters into the air to disperse the crowd. It was the policemen who
helped me to put her corpse inside the vehicle to the mortuary. The mob
continued to throw stones at the vehicle as we were going to deposit her
corpse in the morgue.
What happened next?
Not satisfied, the mob moved to my shop
and vandalised it. They also smashed my car,which I bought not up to a
year before the incident, to pieces.
and vandalised it. They also smashed my car,which I bought not up to a
year before the incident, to pieces.
Did the Kano State Government meet you after the incident to console you?
The true story was that on June 3, 2016,
Governor Umaru Ganduje called a security meeting that involved all
sheikhs, ulamas, state executive council members, Christian
Association of Nigeria ,Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Eze Ndigbo
in Kano, Yoruba monarchs, Edo leaders, other ethnic nationalities
leaders and the state commissioner of police. In that meeting, I was
asked what happened and I narrated the incident. After other comments,
Governor Ganduje condemned the act, saying it was un-Islamic.
Governor Umaru Ganduje called a security meeting that involved all
sheikhs, ulamas, state executive council members, Christian
Association of Nigeria ,Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Eze Ndigbo
in Kano, Yoruba monarchs, Edo leaders, other ethnic nationalities
leaders and the state commissioner of police. In that meeting, I was
asked what happened and I narrated the incident. After other comments,
Governor Ganduje condemned the act, saying it was un-Islamic.
What was the resolution reached after the meeting?
The meeting resolved that justice must
prevail and that the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book. It
was also resolved that my family must be taken care of by the Kano
State Government and lastly, that the state government would establish
Islamic schools, where Islamic scholars would teach the people (Muslims)
the real Islamic doctrines and traditions.
prevail and that the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book. It
was also resolved that my family must be taken care of by the Kano
State Government and lastly, that the state government would establish
Islamic schools, where Islamic scholars would teach the people (Muslims)
the real Islamic doctrines and traditions.
We learnt that Igbos in Kano wanted to launch a reprisal.
The resolutions of that meeting, which
were announced on air, made them change their minds on carrying out a
reprisal. There was a serious reprisal scheduled to hold on Friday, June
3, 2016; probably a state of emergency would have been declared in Kano
State if such had happened. It is pertinent to state that Eze Ndigbo in
Kano also called an emergency meeting immediately, where Igbo and other
ethnic groups, were asked not to take the law into their hands and that
the state government had, in totality, condemned the act.
were announced on air, made them change their minds on carrying out a
reprisal. There was a serious reprisal scheduled to hold on Friday, June
3, 2016; probably a state of emergency would have been declared in Kano
State if such had happened. It is pertinent to state that Eze Ndigbo in
Kano also called an emergency meeting immediately, where Igbo and other
ethnic groups, were asked not to take the law into their hands and that
the state government had, in totality, condemned the act.
Were there other developments?
While my wife was still in the mortuary,
leaving me and our only son, the police arrested the suspects. They
succeeded in arresting Dauda Ahmed and one other person. This was when
Solomon Arase was the Inspector-General of Police. The then IG also
dispatched a team of detectives from Abuja to Kano. The detectives
arrested three suspects. I gathered from a reliable source that Dauda
confessed to the crime in writing (in Hausa language), saying that he
planned and killed my wife in order to take over the shop. The other
suspects also confessed to the crime. I was later called by the police
to identify all of them, which I did. This was because I knew all of
them.
leaving me and our only son, the police arrested the suspects. They
succeeded in arresting Dauda Ahmed and one other person. This was when
Solomon Arase was the Inspector-General of Police. The then IG also
dispatched a team of detectives from Abuja to Kano. The detectives
arrested three suspects. I gathered from a reliable source that Dauda
confessed to the crime in writing (in Hausa language), saying that he
planned and killed my wife in order to take over the shop. The other
suspects also confessed to the crime. I was later called by the police
to identify all of them, which I did. This was because I knew all of
them.
What is your assessment of the way the police handled the matter?
It is painful to disclose that after a
while, the other two runaway suspects reappeared in the market. The
police were informed about this development, but for a reason which I
did not know, they (police) shielded them (from arrest). Again, when
the police had completed their investigations, they told me that they
were ready to prosecute the suspects. But for a reason best known to the
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Kano State, he
refused, for five months, to file a charge against Dauda and the other
arrested suspects.
while, the other two runaway suspects reappeared in the market. The
police were informed about this development, but for a reason which I
did not know, they (police) shielded them (from arrest). Again, when
the police had completed their investigations, they told me that they
were ready to prosecute the suspects. But for a reason best known to the
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Kano State, he
refused, for five months, to file a charge against Dauda and the other
arrested suspects.
He (commissioner) refused to take the
suspects to the High Court for prosecution. On the contrary, the police
in Kano wrote to the then Deputy Inspector-General of Police, who is now
the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for advice. To the
dismay of the general public and the international community, a court
recently released the suspects, declaring them innocent. It is important
to note at this point that the case was in the magistrates’ court for
five months without being charged to High Court.
suspects to the High Court for prosecution. On the contrary, the police
in Kano wrote to the then Deputy Inspector-General of Police, who is now
the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, for advice. To the
dismay of the general public and the international community, a court
recently released the suspects, declaring them innocent. It is important
to note at this point that the case was in the magistrates’ court for
five months without being charged to High Court.
Before the day your wife was killed, has there been a threat of violence against your family?
No, there was nothing like such.
How did your child and your relations receive the news of your wife’s murder?
My son and the entire Agbahime family,
including my in-laws, Igbo community, church and other well-wishers were
completely devastated on hearing the gruesome murder of my wife. This
was because my wife was very committed to church activities. She was
every good thing one could think of in a woman.
including my in-laws, Igbo community, church and other well-wishers were
completely devastated on hearing the gruesome murder of my wife. This
was because my wife was very committed to church activities. She was
every good thing one could think of in a woman.
For how long were you married?
We got married on Saturday, November 20, 1982 and we have lived together for the past 34 years.
Did your wife ever complain to you that she was being threatened by any Muslim youth before the incident?
No, the only complaint she raised was
about Dauda. Put simply, she was not in any trouble or had a problem
with any person (Muslim), apart from Dauda Ahmed.
about Dauda. Put simply, she was not in any trouble or had a problem
with any person (Muslim), apart from Dauda Ahmed.
Did you get her corpse for burial?
Yes, when the burial was fixed for
August 26, 2016, at Orodo, my home town, I had to take her corpse from
the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano mortuary to Imo State
for burial. We left Kano early in the morning of August 25, 2016, and
got to Imo very late the same day. The burial took place on August 26,
2016. I appreciate my church and some members of the public for their
assistance in the course of the burial.
August 26, 2016, at Orodo, my home town, I had to take her corpse from
the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano mortuary to Imo State
for burial. We left Kano early in the morning of August 25, 2016, and
got to Imo very late the same day. The burial took place on August 26,
2016. I appreciate my church and some members of the public for their
assistance in the course of the burial.
Did the Kano State Government meet you after the incident to console you?
Before the suspects were declared
innocent, I went to him (Ganduje) to notify him that the suspects had
not been charged to court. He said that he would do something about it,
but never did. What he did was to pave the way for them (suspects) to be
declared innocent of the murder case.
innocent, I went to him (Ganduje) to notify him that the suspects had
not been charged to court. He said that he would do something about it,
but never did. What he did was to pave the way for them (suspects) to be
declared innocent of the murder case.
Why did you relocate from Kano State?
I had to relocate because I reliably
gathered that some Muslims were planning to kill me. This was because I
am the prime witness to the matter.
gathered that some Muslims were planning to kill me. This was because I
am the prime witness to the matter.
How have you been coping five months after the incident?
It has been like hell on earth. I say
this because after they killed my wife, vandalised my vehicle and
destroyed my two shops (mine and that of my wife), I now depend on my
siblings and members of my church for financial assistance. Presently, I
am not doing anything.
this because after they killed my wife, vandalised my vehicle and
destroyed my two shops (mine and that of my wife), I now depend on my
siblings and members of my church for financial assistance. Presently, I
am not doing anything.
What fresh things did you learn about Nigeria after the matter, especially on the call for national unity?
The saying, “One Nigeria” is just mere
balderdash. I say this because the leaders’ mistake is a ‘leading’
mistake. To buttress it, if our leaders cannot keep the oaths of their
offices and cannot respect the sanctity of life and our constitution,
there is no need to talk about oneness in Nigeria. I also say this
because even if the constitution condemns killing in one part of the
country and declares other people who killed in other state innocent, I
wonder what kind of constitution that is.
balderdash. I say this because the leaders’ mistake is a ‘leading’
mistake. To buttress it, if our leaders cannot keep the oaths of their
offices and cannot respect the sanctity of life and our constitution,
there is no need to talk about oneness in Nigeria. I also say this
because even if the constitution condemns killing in one part of the
country and declares other people who killed in other state innocent, I
wonder what kind of constitution that is.
What steps did the Imo State governor and the House of Assembly take to get justice for you and your family?
In spite of several letters I sent to
the state government and the Imo State House of Assembly, nothing has
been done by the government to correct the abnormality and ensure
justice for the murder of my wife, an Imo State indigene. Apart from the
burial, which the Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, some
executive council members and Eze Imo, HRM Eze Samuel Ohiri, attended,
there has not been correspondence between the state government and I.
the state government and the Imo State House of Assembly, nothing has
been done by the government to correct the abnormality and ensure
justice for the murder of my wife, an Imo State indigene. Apart from the
burial, which the Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, some
executive council members and Eze Imo, HRM Eze Samuel Ohiri, attended,
there has not been correspondence between the state government and I.
I want the Presidency, Senate, House of
Representatives and the judiciary to compel the Kano State judiciary to
re-arrest the suspects and charge them to a High Court in Abuja, where
human right activists and NGOs, among others, would monitor the
proceedings. This is because I have lost confidence in the Kano State
judiciary.
Representatives and the judiciary to compel the Kano State judiciary to
re-arrest the suspects and charge them to a High Court in Abuja, where
human right activists and NGOs, among others, would monitor the
proceedings. This is because I have lost confidence in the Kano State
judiciary.
The court ruled that the
suspects had no case to answer. Do you know any of the arraigned
suspects from Abdulmumeen Mustafa, Abdullahi Abubakar, Zabairu Abubakar
to Musa Abdullahi apart from Dauda Ahmed?
suspects had no case to answer. Do you know any of the arraigned
suspects from Abdulmumeen Mustafa, Abdullahi Abubakar, Zabairu Abubakar
to Musa Abdullahi apart from Dauda Ahmed?
Yes, I know all of them. Even at the
police station, I identified all of them. All of us were in the same
market (some of them in the same line). Permit me to state that Dauda
Ahmed mentioned some of his cohorts on the run, but the police never
arrested them.
police station, I identified all of them. All of us were in the same
market (some of them in the same line). Permit me to state that Dauda
Ahmed mentioned some of his cohorts on the run, but the police never
arrested them.
A similar case happened in Kano in 1994 when a mob beheaded one Gideon Akaluka. Were you aware of the incident?
Yes, I was in Kano then.
What do you want the government to do for you?
There was a four-point resolution the
Kano State Government took after the meeting.They should religiously
implement those resolutions.
Kano State Government took after the meeting.They should religiously
implement those resolutions.
Has Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo invited you since you arrived in your state?
Yes, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State invited me and promised that the law must take its course on the murderers.