‘Horrifying spectacle’ — Buhari speaks on rescue operation at Kaduna religious centre

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the abuse of over 300 persons at an Islamic centre at Rigasa, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis.

At least 300 persons were reportedly set free after the police raided the Islamic centre on Thursday night.

The victims, who according to the police, are from Burkina Faso, Mali and other African countries, were subjected to inhuman treatment.

According to a statement by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Buhari condemned all forms of rights abuses involving adults or children.

The president commended the efforts of the police for the discovery and subsequent arrest of operators of the centre.

He said all children must be safeguarded and protected from all evil influences in the society.

“In commending the police for their discovery of this horrific hub and arrest of suspected operators of the unedifying, so-called ‘reform institution,’ the administration of President Buhari categorically condemns rights abuses whether of adults or children,” the statement read.

“We are glad that Muslim authorities have dismissed the notion of the embarrassing and horrifying spectacle as Islamic School.

“The place has indeed been described as a house of torture and a place of human slavery.

“The President holds the view that children will be safeguarded from roaming the streets and protected from all evil influences that assail idle hands and idle minds, when they are sent to school.”

The president enjoined religious and traditional authorities to partner with the three tiers of government to check the menace of what he described as “unwanted cultural practices”.

‘‘To stop unwanted cultural practices that amount to the abuse of children, our religious and traditional authorities must work with the federal, state and local governments to expose and stop all types of abuse that are widely known but ignored for many years by our communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the police said it had handed the rescued inmates over to the state government for reunion with their families.

Yakubu Sabo, the command’s public relations officer, said the seven suspects earlier arrested in connection to the incident were undergoing investigations.