The invitation from the police to Nigeria’s leading actress from Northern Nigeria, Rahama Sadau was to protect her and prevent a breakdown of law and order in Kaduna state, a senior police source have disclosed.
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that Sadau was invited for questioning on the prompting of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammad Adamu at the weekend following misgivings over social media trends over a racy picture she posted on twitter.
The backless picture received mixed reception from her audience. While some commended it others flayed it with some alleging that it blasphemed her faith in Islam.
According to a report by Daily Trust, the senior police officer confirmed that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had written a letter to the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna, Umaru Muri, directing him to investigate the circumstances that led to an alleged blasphemy during a heated debate on the morality of photos posted by Sadau.
He said Sadau had been traced to Abuja where she had relocated with her family for fear that she may be harmed and a team of police officers had been deployed to bring her to Kaduna for questioning.
The source who said he was not authorised to speak said the police team had returned to Kaduna on Saturday without Sadau.
“There was never a directive to arrest her, we have received a lot of complaints against her and if you look at the IG’s letter, he only directed the CP to ensure that the development does not threaten public peace, and so we wanted to hear from her and understand the nature of threats she has been receiving,” he said.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that after the actress received so much backlash, she later appeared in a video where she apologised for her action and distanced herself from the blasphemy.
However, many fans as well as Islamic clerics have criticised and threatened the actress saying her action had resulted in the blasphemy.
Following a letter of complaint written by one Mallam Lawal Mohammed Gusau titled: “Complaint of causing and acknowledged derogatory and blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad SAW by one Rahama Sadau, Kaduna, Kaduna state and request for urgent intervention,” the IG directed the Kaduna state Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri to ensure the development does not threaten public peace.
The letter which was signed by the Principal Staff to the IG, Idowu Owohunwa dated November 3, 2020 stated that: “I am to convey the directive of the Inspector General of Police that you treat proactively with a view to ensuring that the development does not result to any act that could threaten public peace and security. The IG of Police further directs that you furnish him with updates, accordingly.”
However, the Kaduna state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige could not be reached at the time of filing this report.