“We Have Not Heard His Voice in 25 Days”- Family Raises Alarm as Islamic Scholar Goes Missing After Abuja Trip

• The family of Islamic scholar Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir has raised alarm over his disappearance 25 days after he travelled to Abuja to resolve issues linked to a blocked bank account.
• They say they have received no official explanation regarding his arrest or current whereabouts.

The wife and children of Zaria-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, have raised alarm over his continued disappearance, 25 days after he travelled to Abuja to resolve issues surrounding the alleged blockage of his bank account.

Sheikh Abdulkadir is a prominent leader of Fityanul Islam, a Tijaniyya sect with a strong presence in Zaria and other parts of Kaduna State.

Speaking in an interview with RFI International, monitored in Kaduna, the scholar’s wife, Hajiya Ramatu Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, recounted the circumstances surrounding his departure from home.

According to her, the cleric left early in the morning after informing her that he was heading to Abuja to address issues related to his bank account and promised to return the same day.

“He knocked on my door in the morning. I told him I was praying. He gave me money for household expenses and said he was going to Abuja and, God willing, would return the same day,” she said.

She lamented that since that day, the family has had no contact with him.

“From that day up till now, I have not heard his voice again. Whenever I call his line, it is switched off. Today makes it 25 days since I last heard from him,” she added.

Hajiya Ramatu described the emotional toll the situation has taken on her and the children.

“I am alone at home with the children. I am under serious tension. I feel dizzy, and I cannot sleep. I try to be strong so that the children will not panic, but we are extremely worried,” she said.

She further disclosed that the family was later informed that the matter might be linked to an alleged ₦2 million transaction.

“It was said that his account was blocked and that he had to go to Abuja for it to be reopened. Later, we were told it had something to do with about ₦2m,” she stated.

The scholar’s son, Sunusi Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir, who accompanied his father to Abuja, provided additional details on the events that followed.

He explained that they were told the bank account was blocked on the directive of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“After his account was blocked, he asked for the reason and was told it was the EFCC, and that the account could only be reopened if he went to their office,” Sunusi said.

According to him, the EFCC later informed them that a ₦2 million payment into the account was under investigation.

“They said there was the sum of ₦2m that had been sent to him, which they were investigating. He explained that someone linked him to another man who asked for prayers concerning personal life issues, and that he carried out what was requested,” he explained.

Sunusi added that the situation later took a different turn when the case was reportedly described as a military matter.

“They said it was a military case and informed soldiers. They also said my father had agreed to return the money. The soldiers said they would come and question him, and since that day, for 25 days now, we have not seen him,” he said.

He further revealed that the family received only one brief call from the cleric during the period.

“Within these 25 days, they gave him a number and he called to say he was fine. But we still don’t know why he was arrested, where he is or what condition he is in,” he added.

Reacting to rumours that the cleric was arrested for allegedly receiving money to pray for individuals planning a coup, Sunusi said the family was unaware of such allegations.

“We don’t know anything about that because nobody informed us, and the authorities have not said anything like that to us,” he said.

The family has appealed to the relevant authorities to either release Sheikh Khalifa Sani Abdulkadir or disclose his whereabouts, noting that the prolonged silence has left them distressed and traumatised.