At the family house of Abdullahi Berende in Idi Ape area of Ilorin, Kwara State, a group of people sat in a circle, praying in Arabic. With the looks on their faces, it was obvious that they were praying about a matter of serious concern. Close to the spot were some other members of the community who gathered in clusters. Worries, fears and concern were written on their faces as they spoke in hush tones.
Berende, an outspoken member of the community, had been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) since he was arrested on December 17 last year for allegedly working for a terror group and serving as a spy for Iran in Nigeria.
Berende’s 100-year-old father, Pa Jimoh Amosa, was particularly in distress over his son’s arrest and detention. He led other members of the family in appealing to government to conduct a proper investigation into the allegations against Berende.
He said: “Since he has been detained, everything has been in disarray. We usually have our family meetings here and he is the secretary. But since he was arrested, we have not had a sitting.”
At the Medinatulilm Academy (City of Knowledge), a Koranic school where Berende worked as a teacher before he was arrested, the atmosphere was as gloomy as the one at his family house. The female pupils were all dressed in black gowns. Many of their male counterparts wore shirts and trousers, while a few of them wore long gowns popularly called jalamia.
Some of the pupils lamented that Berende’s absence had created a big vacuum in their lives. They said although a friend of his had taken over the school’s administration after his arrest, things have not been the same.
As early as 7 pm, many of the pupils had started leaving the academy for their various homes. A source at the school told our correspondent that the development was quite contrary to what obtained before Berende was arrested.
“The pupils were always there listening to Berende’s teachings till very late in the night,” the source said, pleading not to be named because of the sensitive nature of the Islamic teacher’s case.
Describing Berende as a man of peace, one of the pupils, Sulaiman Olayinka, said the allegation of spying and terrorism levelled against him came as a rude shock.
He said: “I have known him (Berende) for seven years. It was a surprise to us that he was accused of terrorism because it is the opposite of what he taught us. He taught us that a Muslim must be a saviour and not a destroyer. He taught us that one cannot teach the society by force but by knowledge.
“He said we should not discriminate and that we should have both western and Islamic education. He told us that Islam is a religion of peace. He said terrorism is crime and not Islam, and that terrorism is perpetrated by people who do not believe in Islam.”
The Central Mosque at Oja Oba, Idi Ape, Ilorin, where people used to gather to listen to Berende’s teachings on Saturdays and Sundays was desolate when our correspondent visited. Only traders were seen around the mosque. Before Berende’s travails, many of the traders were said to abandon their wares to listen to his sermon. A number of them said they were surprised that such a fate would befall the cleric.
Berende’s brother, Yakubu, said the cleric’s children were yet to fully recover from the shock they experienced when SSS operatives came to arrest him. According to him, Berende was said to be in the bathroom when SSS men stormed his house on December 17. His children, aged between eight and 23, were said to be at home when the SSS operatives came because they were on holiday, but his wife had gone to work.
The SSS men were said to have seized the mobile phones of the children. They were also said to have searched the house and recovered about $160 and some naira notes. They then returned the mobile phones to the children and took Berende away.
Yakubu said it took the family a while before it realised that Berende was with the SSS. “Initially, we didn’t know his whereabouts. It was a traumatic experience for the family, especially the children,” Yakubu recalled.
He said Berende had released more than six albums in which he denounced terrorism and violence. He admitted though that his brother had gone to Iran for further studies. “We have the certificate he obtained from Iran when he went to study there,” he said, waving a certificate.
According to Berendes’s personal assistant, Aremu Kamaldeen, until he was arrested by the SSS, he had enjoyed a cordial relationship with the security outfit, as he always alerted them before preaching or delivering lectures.
Kamaldeen said: “On November 16, 2012, Berende wrote a letter to the Director of SSS and the Commissioner of Police during a remembrance programme in honour of the late former governor of Kwara State, Muhammed Lawal. The Deputy Director of SSS spoke to us and the programme was attended by the SSS.”
A source said his brand of teaching could have been responsible for his travails, as he belongs to the Shiite sect, which was just being accepted in Ilorin. “The general public loves his teachings, and his popularity has soared lately, which has made some people uncomfortable.
“He is also a politician. Unfortunately too, most of the late Lawal’s supporters have crossed to Berende’s party and they follow him religiously. This has become a sort of threat to some people.”
However, when the State Security Service (SSS) paraded Berende early this year alongside two other suspects, he was allegedly linked to espionage and terrorist activities with the backing of some Iranian fundamentalists.
The spokesperson of the SSS, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, gave the name of the main suspect as Abdullahi Mustapha Berende who trained in modern Shi’a Islamic teaching (Da’ awa) at the Imam Khomeni University, Iran.
According to the SSS, Berende was allegedly recruited by some Iranian elements when he returned to Iran for further studies in 2011 and was trained on the use of AK 47 assault rifle, pistols, production and detonation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDDs).
In an interview with newsmen during the parade at the SSS headquarters, Berende, who hails from Ilorin, Kwara State, said his Iranian sponsors did not disclose their mission to him at the initial stage.
According to him, his Iranian sponsors approached him with an offer to assist him set up a business in Lagos, with an outlet in Ilorin, consequent upon which he was invited to Dubai for briefing in 2012.
He added that it was in Dubai that he was asked to establish a terrorist cell in southwestern Nigeria, with emphasis on Lagos where he was detailed to identify and gather intelligence on specific corporate and individual targets for attack.
He said his Iranian sponsors were particular about Lagos because the Israelis have an intelligence facility there which they employ in spying on Iran. According to him, codes were invented to secure communication with his sponsors. Israel was coded “Uncle”, while the US was coded “Aunt”.
The suspect claimed to have personally taken photographs of the Israeli Cultural Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos which he sent to his sponsors after which he was asked to establish a business in Lagos to serve as cover for his operations.
The SSS disclosed further that the suspect collected 4,000 US dollars upon completion of training, 3, 500 Euros in April, 2012 at a meeting in Dubai; and 20, 000 dollars.
Giving a breakdown of how the 20, 000 dollars was to be spent, the suspect said 10, 000 dollars was for his relocation from Ilorin to Lagos, to furnish a house and rent a shop for his business. Five thousand dollars was meant to cover his visa processing expenses, while the remaining 5,000 dollars was for his upkeep.
In the course of carrying out surveillance, Berende said he engaged the services of three other local accomplices. However, Berende who said he was still writing his Masters Degree thesis at the University of Ilorin, however denied any link with Al-Qada or Boko Haram.
He described his involvement in the operations as “regrettable and embarrassing”, saying that he never meant to do anything that could betray his country.
“Everybody must watch it because there are many gullible people out there who get trapped with promises of assistance. I regret my role because it is very embarrassing. I never meant to betray my country.
“I mentioned some names to my Iranian handlers from information given by the guy I put on surveillance. But I later found out that the information could be harmful to my country.
“I plead with the people around me, my family and the entire Nigerian people to forgive me and overlook the incident. If given the chance, I will contribute to the development of this country”, the suspect stated.
But Marilyn Ogar said the Berende, 50 was arrested in December 2012 following a painstaking investigation that lasted six months.
Ogar said while parading the suspect then: “From the foregoing, there is conclusive evidence that Berende in collaboration with his Iranian handlers were involved in grievous crimes against the national security of this country. Accordingly, he and his accomplices will be charged to court soon.
“The safety of Nigeria is our collective responsibility. We therefore enjoin fellow Nigerians to collaborate with security agencies as we strive to protect our nation from the antics of terrorists within and outside our shores. Let’s collectively remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals and activities to security agencies”.
Additional report from Gbade OGUNWALE (Abuja)
