Rogo’s ally raises red flag over his life after killing

By Renson Mnyamwezi

Another man on the US list of suspected terrorists says he fears for his life.

Sheikh Abubakar Ahmed has claimed his life could be in danger following the recent killing of Sheikh Aboud Rogo by the yet to be known people.

Sheikh Abubakar who lives in Mombasa has been facing terrorism charges alongside the slain radical priest. In June both were placed on a US sanctions list alongside several Eritreans and Sudanese for alleged support of international terrorism.

On Monday following Sheikh Rogo’s killing, Sheikh Abubakar claimed his own life is now  in danger and could be slain any time by the same people who killed Sheikh Rogo.

But Coast Provincial Criminal Investigation Officer Ambrose Munyasya says  he is not aware of any threats to the suspect’s life.

“I am not aware about such threats. What I know is that Sheikh Abubakar recently raised similar concerns in Nairobi and I believe that is a Nairobi thing,” said Mr Munyasya.

Eliminated

But Sheikh Abubakar who is a co-accused with Sheikh Rogo in a case he is suspected of being a member of Al Shabaab in a Nairobi court, insisted he is the next man on the list of those to be eliminated.

“They eliminated Amir Khan recently, they have now done away with Sheikh Rogo, I am now the next to be executed because some people believe I am a threat to the security of the country,” says Sheikh Abubakar.

Amir Khan was a radical islamist and jihadist who was killed by unknown people in Taveta County this April. The circumstances of his death and motive of the killers are yet to be known.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Abubakar told The County Weekly that the sanctions order had ostracised him and left him isolated even by members of his family.

 Sheikh Abubakar who is an ex- soldier says all claims that he was a member of Al-Qaida were fabrications and imagination of the police officers under instructions of a cabinet minister.

The preacher said this after the burial of Sheikh Rogo whose death sparked protests in Mombasa in which at least four people including three police officers died.

Sheikh Abubakar confirmed that Sheikh Rogo was buried without his body being washed  as is normal burial ritual of a Muslim because he is regarded to be shahid or martyr.

“We buried him with his clothes and the blood stains in his clothes because he is still living with us,” said Sheikh Abubakar.

The killing of Sheikh Rogo has sparked off tension in Mombasa which has led to running battles between anti riot police and the Muslim youths.

 Munyasia described the youths who had engaged the police in running battles as looters.

“These are just looters we have decided to arrest and take to court,”  said Munyasya .

Al Shaabab militia

As we went to press, businessmen in Mombasa continued counting their loses following the riots which saw several shop windows smashed.

Among the business premises affected included Equity Bank along Abdul Nasser Road near Marikiti Market and Wine shops along Jomo Kenyatta shop where the youths looted a computer.

The government has formed a team to investigate the killing of Sheikh Rogo.

The fiery Islamic preacher believed to have had links with the Al Shaabab militia, died under a hail of bullets after unknown gunmen sprayed his car with bullets along Malindi-Mombasa road.

He was in the car with his wife, his daughter and father in-law. The wife was shot on the leg, while the other two escaped unhurt.