Sokoto Cleric Stabbed Twice in Neck After Juma’at Prayer, Attacker Killed

Sokoto Cleric Stabbed Twice in Neck After Juma’at Prayer, Attacker Killed

Tension gripped parts of Sokoto metropolis on Friday after an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Musa Ayyuba Lukuwa, was stabbed shortly after leading the Juma’at prayer at his mosque in the Mabera area of the city.

The cleric was reportedly attacked twice in the neck by a young man who was among the worshippers at the mosque.

The incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of the Friday congregational prayer, with sources saying the suspect had been seated among the worshippers, reportedly in one of the front rows, before allegedly moving towards the cleric and attacking him.

The attack caused panic among worshippers, who reportedly overpowered the suspect before beating him to death.

The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the stabbing and the subsequent death of the suspected attacker.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufa’i, said Lukuwa was taken to the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, where he was receiving medical treatment.

Rufa’i said the suspected attacker was killed by the cleric’s followers after the stabbing.

He added that no arrest had been made in connection with the killing of the suspected attacker but said security measures had been deployed to prevent the situation from escalating.

According to the police spokesman, an investigation was ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those who may have been involved in the ensuing violence.

The stabbing came against the backdrop of an earlier religious controversy involving Lukuwa and allegations of threats to his life.

The dispute reportedly followed a sermon delivered by the cleric in which he cited a Hadith concerning the parents of Prophet Muhammad. Some Islamic scholars and followers associated with the Tariqa order reportedly considered the remarks offensive.

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The disagreement subsequently escalated, with a man identified as Dahiru Mai Barewa allegedly accused of threatening to kill Lukuwa and another Islamic scholar, Malam Murtala Bello Assada.

The alleged threats were reportedly made in videos circulated on social media.

The matter was subsequently reported to the authorities, leading to the arrest and arraignment of Mai Barewa.

A court later ordered that he be remanded in a correctional facility while the case remained pending.

The issue had continued to generate tension in Sokoto in the days before Friday’s attack.

Reports indicated that youths protested in the city over the continued detention of Mai Barewa and demanded his release. The police reportedly arrested about 20 people during the protest and subsequently charged them to court.

The protests further underscored the sensitivity of the religious dispute and the potential for it to trigger unrest in the city.

Four days before Friday’s stabbing, Lukuwa and members of his group reportedly visited the Sokoto State Government House, where they submitted a written complaint concerning the alleged threats and the controversy surrounding the cleric.

The visit was said to have been part of efforts to draw the attention of the state authorities to concerns over the safety of the cleric and his associates.

Friday’s stabbing has now heightened concerns over security in parts of Sokoto, with reports of increased tension following news of the attack.

Some youths were reportedly seen in parts of the metropolis, including the Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi areas, while some businesses were said to have closed temporarily amid fears of further violence.

Security personnel were also reportedly deployed to strategic locations to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The police appealed to residents to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

The command said it was taking steps to maintain peace and prevent the incident from spreading to other parts of the metropolis.

The circumstances surrounding the stabbing, including the motive of the suspected attacker and the events that led to his death after he was overpowered by worshippers, remain subject to police investigation.

The incident has also renewed concerns about the dangers of retaliatory violence, particularly in situations involving sensitive religious disputes.

As of the latest report, Sheikh Musa Ayyuba Lukuwa remained at the Specialist Hospital in Sokoto receiving treatment.

The police have not announced any arrest in connection with the killing of the suspected attacker, while investigations into the entire incident continue.

Sokoto Cleric Stabbed Twice in Neck After Juma’at Prayer, Attacker Killed