Insane ex-lecturer mistaken for terrorist after shouting "Allahu Akbar" in market

A mentally ill former lecturer at the School of Health Technology, Jega, Kebbi state, identified as Usman, has been arrested on suspicion of being a member of the dreaded Boko Haram sect after shouting "Allahu Akbar" in the market.

A witness told Daily Trust that the that the former lecturer had gone to the at the Birnin Kebbi Central Market on Tuesday to purchase textile used in sewing hijab, wrapped it over his head and began screaming like a suicide bomber.

"The man came to the market and bought a material for female hijab," the unnamed source said.

"He used it to cover his head and was waving his handset and Ipad, shouting Allahu Akbar.

"So everybody ran because we thought he was a Boko Haram member and may be carrying an explosive device."

Another eyewitness, Saleh Bashir, said the suspected terrorist was later apprehended.

"Vigilante members summoned courage and with the help of some of us, overpowered him and took him to the police," Bashir said.

A security personnel told Daily Trust that the man is known to be mentally unstable in the community.

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"Usman was a Chemistry lecturer at School of Health Technology, Jega who was later transferred to the Ministry of Education because of his mental condition," he said.

"He is divorced with a child and had at a time been arrested for taking photographs of banks and 'scolding' an ATM for not dispensing money."

Confirming the incident, the state Police spokesman, ASP Nafiu Abubakar, said the suspect has been receiving treatment for his mental illness since 2012.

"This is not the first time we have dealt with his case. He was a member of staff of the School of Health Technology, Jega," Abubakar said.

"We will hand him over to his family who are expected to take him back to the hospital for treatment."

There have been several bomb scares in the North-East since the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands.