Man in police net after naming dog “Buhari”
The Nigeria Police Force has extended its duties into pet christening matters after arresting 30-year-old trader Joe Fortemose Chinakwe for naming his dog “Buhari”.
“Buhari” is the surname of Nigerian president who goes by the first name “Muhammadu”.
The arrest was made on Saturday when Chinakwe’s neighbour alerted Sango Police Station to the “delicate” situation. The neighbour reportedly said his father’s name was “Alhaji Buhari”. So he found it offensive a dog next door would bear the same.
Residents in the area said to be dominated by northerners were also alleged to have scolded Chinakwe for naming a dog after Nigeria’s president. The accused lives at 10, Omikunle Street, Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
“The man bought a dog and inscribed ‘Buhari’ on both sides of its body,” state police spokesperson Abimbola Oyeyemi said.
“One mallam lodged a complaint and when our men got there, we found out that it was true.”
“You know such thing can cause serious breach of the peace and ethnic or religious unrest. We are charging him to court for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.”
The police, however, no longer know the whereabouts of the dog. “Buhari” which stands as the authentic evidence the police would need to prosecute Chinakwe had since gone missing. Efforts to recover it has failed.
The police claimed Chinakwe secretly directed his friends to kill the dog and have a sumptuous meal of it.
The police have refused to grant the trader bail for fear his release may spark ethnic tension in the area. They said the case has been transferred to the Ogun State Police Command headquarters at Eleweran.
This could be funny to an average reader but painful to the relatives of the arrested trader who is popularly known as a dog-lover at Sango Market wear he sells female wears.
Chinakwe’s brother, Chiedozie, says his sibling is being persecuted for no just cause, and that the police may take laws into their hands and poison Chinakwe.
“He is a lover of dogs and he names them after things that tickle him,” the brother said.
“He bought this dog a year ago and named it Buhari. Unfortunately, some northerners, who dominate the vicinity where he resides misconstrued his intention and connived to take him up. The complainant then claimed it was derogatory because his father answers Buhari.”
It is being alleged that the people who reported Chinakwe to the police have vowed to kill him once he’s released..
