Azman Air disowns ex-IGP’s son over backlash on blasphemy comments

Azman Air on Sunday said Captain Jamil Abubakar, son of a former inspector-general of police Mohammed Abubakar, is no longer on its payroll as a pilot.

Abubakar came under criticism on social media following his comments regarding the killing of Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, for alleged blasphemy.

The pilot had said the punishment for blasphemy is death. He, however, stated afterwards that it was not an endorsement of the brutal murder of Ms Samuel.

But his statement did not appease some media users who took to Twitter to call for boycott of Azman Air.

Azman Air, however, tweeted on Sunday that Abubakar’s last flight as its employee was in 2019.

“Capt Jamil Abubakar is no longer a pilot @AzmanAir; his last flight with us was 22nd Dec 2019.

“We refuse to take responsibility for a comment or view of a former staff. The General Public should kindly take note,” the airline said.

The remains of Samuel were buried in her hometown in Niger State on Saturday. Her death has since sparked outrage among the public.