They killed ‘Buhari’ while I was in detention, says trader

Joachim Iroko, the trader arrested for naming his dog Buhari, says the most painful part of his ordeal was the murder of the animal while he was in detention.

Iroko was arraigned on Monday before a Sango Ota magistrate’s court, Ogun state, on a two-count charge bordering on breach of the peace.

Although he was immediately granted bail, Iroko wasn’t able to fulfill the bail conditions until Thursday.

Shortly after his release, the trader told Vanguard that going to prison was a good experience for him.

Iroko revealed that he has also named his dogs after Nelson Mandela, late South African leader and Barack Obama, US president.

“I am so happy. It is a joy to me. I have missed my family; that was most painful. Prison is a place to experienced in one’s life. It is like a rehabilitation home: you learn many things there and there are many people you may not have the opportunity to talk to.

“But in prison, you will sit down with them and discuss. There are many things you take for granted, but when you go to prison you know there is law.

“The only thing I am regretting about my coming to prison is the intimidation from the Hausa community. Going to prison is a golden moment for me. As a matter of fact, they misunderstood me. I have three dogs: one bears Obama, one bears Joe, an abbreviation of my name. The third is named Buhari.

“I named these dogs after my role models. My late dog was named after Nelson Mandela. I don’t just give any name to my dogs. I give reputable names to my dogs. It is love I have for Buhari; he is my role model.

“Buhari is not the President of the North. He is the President of Nigeria. I see no reason why Northerners should intimidate me: Nigeria is one. I see no reason why they will be intimidating me. It is my right to name my dog any name.

“Thank God, I have regained my freedom. The most painful thing is the way they treated my dog. I am not happy that they killed my dog, while I was in detention.

“It is my dog, it is my pet. I love my dogs. They have no right to kill my dog. Nigerians should know that there are other dogs in other areas that bear Jack as name. Why is Buhari so special. It is a name that has been existing for several years.”