He can never be a terrorist: Family of suspected Iran terrorist cell leader claims he’s innocent

by Rachel Ogbu

Berende
Berende

Speaking out for the first time since his arrest, relatives close to suspected terrorist, Abdullahi Berende have claimed allegations against him are false.

Even though the State Security Services alleged that Abdullahi confessed to interrogators that he received $4,000 upon completion of his training in Iran; 3,500 Euro in April 2012 at a meeting in Dubai, Abdullahi’s younger brother, Yakubu in Ilorin, Kwara State, who represented the family and Alhaji Jimoh Amosa, the Chairman, Afonja Descendants Union, Ilorin, said Abdullahi was not involved in any terror activity.

According to reports, on Sunday March 3, Yakubo told reporters that the SSS had to make public footage or recording of his brother confessing to terrorism and the money he received.

He labeled the allegations against Abdullahi as “saddening and surprising” to the family members adding that Abdullahi was only in Iran to study and that his brother was in fact a godly man who was highly respected in the area.

“So for the SSS to accuse him of being a terrorist is something that is never part of him. The family is saying that if the confession is really true, why don’t they (SSS) show the video of the confession for the whole world to see rather than speaking for him?

“The allegation that he received thousands of dollars from Iran is far from the truth, because if he had that kind of money, every member of the family would have felt the money. When we got to his personal accounts in different banks we could only find N10,000. We can prove that: his ATM card is with us and his account number is with us. If anybody wants to verify that, we can go to his banks,” he said.

Amosa said the suspect had nothing about violence or terrorism in his blood. “He is innocent of the allegation. He can never be a terrorist because of his grand knowledge of the Holy Quran. They should please release him,” he said.

The Punch reports:

The Berende family urged the SSS to charge Abdullahi to court or release him. Abdullahi, a leader of Shi’a Islamic sect and two other terror suspects, Sulaiman Saka and Saheed Adewunmi, were paraded by the SSS penultimate Wednesday for allegedly working for Iranian terrorists planning to attack American and Israeli interests in Nigeria.

Deputy Director, Public Relations, SSS, Marilyn Ogar, also alleged that Abdullahi confessed to interrogators that he received $4,000 upon completion of his training in Iran; 3,500 Euro in April 2012 at a meeting in Dubai. Ogar further said that Abdullahi received $20,000, out of which he allegedly used $10,000 in relocating to Lagos from Ilorin, furnishing a house and renting a shop for his business.

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