Young Benue barber reportedly arrested in Kano for blasphemy

[Edoman]

Young Benue barber reportedly arrested in Kano for blasphemy after he gave customers haircuts that allegedly 'insults Islam'







A young barber from Benue State identified as Elijah Ode has been reportedly arrested in Kano for blasphemy. 
 
According to a Benue activist, Smith Akoko, the young man, who is also a student, was arrested last Wednesday, after two of his customers were caught with hairstyles deemed blasphemous to the Islamic religion.
 
His cousin, Sunday Ukenya, who confirmed the incident to Akoko, said that Elijah was arraigned in court on Tuesday, February 2 and later remanded.
 
Read the report below: 
 
''Elijah Ode, a resident of Kano from Adum East, Obi LGA of Benue State, who combines barbing with studies and is domicile in the Sabon Gari town of the state was reported to have been in the net of Islamic religious extremists, who believe he has committed blasphemy in the cause of his work as barber.
 
Report says Elijah, who is well patronized by young people for possessing exceptional skills in trendy haircuts, attracted the wrath of the extremists last week Wednesday when two of his customers were tortured to stupor for designs claimed to be blasphemous to the Islamic religion.
 
Thereupon, Elijah was traced to his barbershop, where he was arrested for complicity, and has been in Police detention with the two customers since last week.
 
According to information obtained from his cousin, Mr Sunday Ukenya, the young barber did not design the hairstyles with the intention to provoke. He said he was only being innovative doing his work as usual to eke a living and pay his fees at his tertiary institution of study in Kano, where he sponsors himself.
 
Ukenya also added that the case is already in the court of law at the wish of the aggrieved Muslims with first session being yesterday. He expressed sadness, however, that all efforts by the young barber's lawyer to bail him proved abortive for the claim that it is a major case and is as a result not bailable.
 
At the moment, the family has run out of hope, soliciting intercessory prayers as the reality of incarceration stares Elijah in the face. And indeed, jamesibechi.com can confirm that unless prayers are offered or reputable human rights activists from across the globe rise up for the defenceless self-sponsored young barber, the reality may be undesirable but inevitable.''
 


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[Edoman]

Here's the 'haram' hairstyle that led to the arrest of a barber in Kano







A photo of the hairstyle that led to a barber in Kano being arrested and accused of giving "haircuts that insult Islam" has been obtained by LIB.
 
Recall that a young barber from Benue State identified as Elijah Ode was reportedly arrested on Wednesday, Jan 27, in Kano for blasphemy (read here). 
 

 
Elijah, a student, was picked up after two of his customers were seen with hairstyles deemed blasphemous to the Islamic religion.
 
He was arraigned in court on Tuesday, February 2, and later remanded.
 
According to the teachings of Islam, any hairstyle that entails shaving some part of the head and leaving the other unshaved is impermissible or at the least disliked and explicitly prohibited by the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace).
 

 
The teachings of Islam states that, "The one who cuts his hair should make it all the same length. The one who cuts his hair on the sides of his head more than the middle comes under the heading of qaza’, which is forbidden."
 
However, Elijah is not a Muslim yet this didn't deter his arrest. 

[Edoman]

#FreeElijahOdeh: Senator Abba Moro demands immediate release of young barber arrested in Kano for giving customers 'anti-Islam' haircuts







The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Comrade Abba Moro, has demanded immediate release of Elijah Odeh, a young barber arrested for alleged blasphemy in Kano State.
 
It will be recalled that Odeh, from Adum East, in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, was arrested for giving his customers haircuts deemed offensive to Islam. He is currently being tried in Gyadi-Gyadi Magistrate’s Court sitting in Kano. Read HERE and HERE
 

Moro, in a statement issued by his media office in Abuja on Sunday, February 7, said that the arrest of Odeh was an infringement on his rights to live and do business in any part of the country without molestation and harassment.
 
"The arrest and continued incarceration of Elijah Odeh, a young barber from Obi LGA, based in Kano State, by a group of Muslims over a harmless hairstyle he designed on two of his customers is highly condemnable, unacceptable, unconstitutional and an infringement on the rights of the young man to live and ply his legitimate trade in any part of the country without molestation and harassment," the statement reads. 
 
"None of my Constituents will suffer unjustly anywhere, as long as I remain their Senator. I must follow up on this case, with all the seriousness it deserves, until justice is gotten for the boy, because I believe he has done nothing wrong in being creative and innovative." 

[Edoman]

Senator Moro confirms release of young barber arrested in Kano for giving customers 'anti-Islam' hairstyle







Elijah Odeh, the young barber who was arrested in Kano State for alleged blasphemy has been released.
 
It will be recalled that Odeh, from Adum East, in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, was arrested for giving his customers haircuts deemed offensive to Islam. Read HERE and HERE 
 
It was gathered that the case was struck out on Wednesday, by the same Judge who refused to grant him bail earlier. 
 
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Comrade Abba Moro, confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday February 10.
 
"I'm pleased to announce the release of Elijah Odeh, a young barber from Obi LGA arrested and detained in Kano State over hairstyle he designed on two of his customers. The case was struck out today," the statement reads.
 
"Like I said the other day, I won't allow any of my Constituents, anywhere in the country, suffer unjustly as long as I remain their Senator,"
 
"Elijah was unjustly arrested and even denied bail but thank God he's now free,"
 
"Many thanks to Governor Samuel Ortom and all those who, in one way or the other, lent their voices in the struggle to get the young man released. It's victory for all of us!"
~ S A M
10/02/2021
 

 

[Edoman]

Benue barber speaks after his release, says the hairstyle he gave his customers was a Versace design







The young Benue barber, who was arrested in Kano state for blasphemy has said that the hairstyle he gave his customers was a Versace design.
 
It will be recalled that Elijah Odeh, from Adum East, in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, was arrested for giving his customers haircuts deemed offensive to Islam. Read HERE and HERE 
 

 
Odeh stated this on Thursday during his visit the to Senator Abba Moro, at his office in the National Assembly Abuja. 
 
Speaking during the visit, Odeh said he was overwhelmed by the show of love for him by Senator Moro and all the people who stood up for him.
 
On his arrest and detention, he said he did nothing wrong. Elijah stated that the hairstyle he designed on his customers' heads was only a Versace design, that it wasn't anything to anger anybody or group of persons. He said he felt really bad but now happy because of the love shown to him by people he least expected.
 
The senator was represented by his aide, Emmanuel Eche-Ofun John, as Abba Moro had to leave after waiting for two hours for the team to arrive from Kano state.