Indian fugitive cleric makes friends with servicemen as Nigerian military turns ablind eye

According to Leadership on Friday, Nigerian Defence Headquarters has not commented on the notorious Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik’s designation of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) as the “Muslim Airforce.”

Internet users are furious at Naik’s social media posts, which suggest that he is in Nigeria at the Sultan of Sokoto’s request.

After running afoul of Indian authorities over his sermons that he claimed encouraged religious intolerance, the Islamic professor is now on the run.

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Due to allegations that Naik had encouraged and helped the group’s members to try to sow discord, hostility, or other unfavourable attitudes among different religious communities and organisations, the Indian government banned Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in late 2016.

The preacher, who is on the run, created a stir on social media when he uploaded photos of himself with Nigerian Air Force officers and branded them as “Muslim Airforce” after arriving in the country.

Additionally, he shared a picture of himself with the immigration authorities from Nigeria with the hashtag “Muslim Immigration.”

The divisive preacher referred to the traditional monarch as the “head of state” in a post alongside the Sultan of Sokoto, even though Nigeria has an elected president.

When reached, Air Cdre Edward Gabkwet, a spokesman for the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), declined to comment.

In the meanwhile, questions posed to Brig-Gen Tukur Gusau, the acting director of defence information, were likewise unanswered.

It was noted, meanwhile, that the Nigerian Air Force arrested roughly five officers in 2021 for showing up to and giving a speech at a Kaduna event.