A young barber, Elijah Odeh, from Benue state has been arrested and detained in Kano for allegedly barbing different hairstyles on his customers, which was considered to be offensive to Islam.
It was gathered that Odeh, from Adum East, in the Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, was arrested a few days ago by a group of Muslims over claims that the hairstyle he designed on two of his customers was insulting to Islam and the Holy Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
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According to a Facebook post by a local activist, Smith Akoko, this barber has been deemed liable to blaspheming against the Islam faith by producing ‘secular haircuts’.
The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Abba Moro, has demanded the unconditional release of the barber, who is from his constituency.
Moro, in a statement by his media office in Abuja on Sunday, said the barber was allegedly arrested for barbing different hairstyles on his customers, which was considered to be offensive to Islam.
The Senator said the young barber was currently being tried in Gyadi-Gyadi Magistrate’s Court sitting in Kano State.
He alleged that the man had been denied bail despite the intervention from the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.
Moro added that the arrest and continued incarceration of the young man was unacceptable and unconstitutional.
He said the action was an infringement on the young man’s rights to live and do business in any part of the country without molestation and harassment.
The Senator said, “None of my constituents will suffer unjustly anywhere, as long as I remain their Senator.
“I will also follow up on the case, with all the seriousness it deserves, until justice is served on Elijah, who I believe, has done nothing wrong by being creative and innovative.”
