Revelations from the raid of Ahmad bin Hambal Centre for Islamic Teachings purported to be Islamic school in Kaduna by the police, and subsequently in similar facilities in Daura, Katsina, Zaria and Ilorin, were not only horrific, they also showed the very inhumane conditions under which a section of our youths live.
More than 800 youths, some as young as five and many in chains and bearing scars from whipping and torture, were rescued during the raids.
Undoubtedly, there are several other centres yet to be uncovered torturing inmates in the name of reforms.
This explains how floppy our system is.
In developed countries, the development would have sparked thorough investigations of similar houses masquerading as Islamic centres and perpetrators brought to book.
The torture of inmates at these locations and others yet to be detected is not a direct product of Islamic belief.
It is rather a devilish act borne out of the ulterior motive to toughen the inmates, radicalize them and possibly turn them to materials for terrorists’ recruiters.
In other words, with their alienation from the families and western education, they become acculturated with the centres and imbibe the new paradigm of hostility and hatred. All these put together are enough to fertilise innocent minds for radicalization and transition to extremism.
If not for ulterior motive, any Islamic teacher would know that torture in Islam amounts to a major violation of the inmates’ fundamental rights.
