World Bulletin/News Desk

A prominent Muslim scholar and his wife have been reportedly abducted from their home in Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria.

"As at this morning, nothing has been heard of the Muslim scholar and his wife who were abducted in the wee hours of Saturday," Prof Ishaq Akintola of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) told Anadolu Agency.

AbdulGaniy Jumah, a prominent scholar, and his wife Shakirah were reportedly abducted around 3am at their home.

"Ustadh Jumah and his wife were reportedly whisked away at gun point from his family house," Akintola said.

He said none of the gunmen wore army uniform despite claiming to be soldiers and "none of the neighbors could pick their vehicles' plate numbers due to shock and confusion."

Jumah is a very popular Muslim salafi scholar who teaches Islamic and Arabic lessons and gives lectures on contemporary issues to the mostly working class in the environs.

"He presides over our usrah (family) sessions," Bashir Adefaka, a journalist and follower of the scholar, told AA.

"His recordings are there for all to listen to. There is nothing in his preaching to suggest he poses any danger to anyone or the state," he added.

Adefaka expressed shock at the incident which he said means Muslim scholars are now endangered species.

Three years ago a prominent Muslim figure, Razaq Gawat, disappeared without a trace, fuelling an atmosphere of anxiety among Muslims, especially in the southwest.

"We suspect that this may be the beginning of a crackdown on scholars of Islam in Yorubaland in particular and the whole of southern Nigeria in general as part of the silent war on Islam in western-dominated parts of the world," claimed Prof Akintola.

"Our suspicion is informed by the allegation that another Lagos-based Islamic scholar also disappeared last week," he added.

Police and army spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.