Buhari’s aide supports rape of minor, recants after public backlash

Bashir Ahmad, aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, is currently on the lips of Nigerians who are calling for his dismissal.

Mr Ahmad had made comments indicating he is against a court verdict which sentenced a man, said to have kidnapped a minor at age 13 and got married to her at the age of 15, to 25 years imprisonment.

A twitter user, early Friday morning, drew the attention of the presidential aide to the case, begging him to intervene saying he believes the convict was unjustly treated. Responding in Hausa, Mr Ahmad whose tweet was translated by Google, said although he had no power to reverse the court verdict, he will contact those whom, according to him, are capable.

Screenshot of the tweet translated by Google.

After Nigerians on Twitter condemned the reply of the presidential aide, he recanted, saying he was quoted out of context.

Ahmad said he commented on the story which he had no proper knowledge and understanding about and condemned the act of the convict.

“I commented on the Yunusa Yellow saga earlier, without knowing and understanding the details of the case. Eloping or rather, kidnapping a minor and forcing her to marry you shouldn’t be taken lightly. A condemnable act!” he tweeted on Friday night.