The Deputy Chief Imam at the Central Jumu’ah Mosque in Kangiye, Atakwanyo Ward, Gwadabawa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Sirajo Ahmad Dan Liman has been arrested

Liman was said to have been arrested by officials of the Nigeria Police Force over his collaboration with bandits operating in the area.

A counter-terrorism expert, Zagazola Makama in a post on X said Liman’s arrest followed intelligence reports linked to the cleric’s supply of motorcycles and other basic items to the bandits.

He said the bandits operate along the Tangaza–Niger Republic border axis.

“The operatives allegedly found N47 million in his bank account, suspected to be proceeds from his dealings with the criminals.

“Further checks revealed that Sirajo also serves as the ward chairman of a political party in Atakwanyo, as well as the secretary of the forum of political party chairmen in Gwadabawa LGA,” Makama wrote.

He added that sources said that Liman usually delivers sermons in Kangiye during Ramadan.

The cleric is known to often deputise for his father, the Chief Imam.

In his role as a deputy chief imam, Liman carries out basic clerical tasks like leading Friday prayers and delivering the sermon whenever his father, the Imam, is unavailable.

“The authorities said the arrest was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle the financial and logistical networks sustaining banditry in Sokoto and neighbouring states,” Makama noted.